Hartarto to speak at Melbourne forum

Hartarto to speak at Melbourne forum

JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Industry and Trade
Hartarto is expected to speak at an international conference on
city development and the new economic era to be held in
Melbourne, Australia from Nov. 20 to Nov. 23.

The four-day conference, carrying a theme of "Cities and the
New Global Economy," is jointly organized by the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Australian
government, an OECD report made available here yesterday said.

"The conference will draw together world renowned speakers to
examine how cities, rather than countries, are shaping the global
economy," the report said.

The World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the United
Nations Urban Management Program and the European Union are
expected to join the planned conference.

The OECD report quoted the Australian Deputy Prime Minister
and Federal Government Minister for Housing and Regional
Development, Brian Howe, as saying: "The conference will provide
opportunities for exchange based on experience of cities in
developed, newly industrialized and developing countries, and
help participants strengthen their networks in the fields of
urban and economic development."

During the conference, OECD plans to organize an exhibition on
the development of cities of Asia and the Pacific. (fhp)