Major Asian cities to seek solutions to their problems

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Pollution, transportation and urban development are among the major issues faced by 12 Asian metropolises, and will comprise the priority agenda for the fourth Asian Network of Major Cities 21 (ANMC 21), to be held from Nov. 21 to Nov. 25 here.

Around 200 representatives from Bangkok, Beijing, Hanoi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo and Yangon will attend the meeting, which will be opened by Vice President Jusuf Kalla at the Hotel Borobudur, Central Jakarta.

"The meeting is expected to boost ties among these cities, not only in exchanging information, but also in carrying out several joint projects," Assistant to City Secretary for Administration and Apparatuses Moerdiman RM told reporters on Friday at City Hall.

Of the 17 ANMC joint projects being planned, Jakarta is participating in 10: development of small- and medium-sized passenger jets, intra-Asia distance learning, Asian tourism campaign, vehicular emissions control, public transportation comprehensive planning, urban development and management, urban crisis management, business and investment, resource recycling and clinical training of HIV/AIDS counselors.

The meeting will also discuss two newly proposed joint projects: entrepreneurial training for youths and infectious disease control.

During the event, participants will visit ailing state-owned aircraft manufacturing company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) in Bandung.

"We hope DI can take part in the passenger jet development project," Governor Sutiyoso said.

Head of the City Investment Coordinating Board Muzahiem Mokhtar said the board would take advantage of the Rp 3.6 billion (US$395,605) event to promote business and investment in the capital.

"We hope to meet potential foreign investors at the meeting's business and investment forum," he said.

The ANMC meeting was initiated in Tokyo in October 2001, when the charter for the network was signed and 15 joint projects were approved by member cities.

The second ANMC was held in New Delhi in November 2002, which resulted in the Delhi Declaration and two new joint projects were approved. Last year's meeting was hosted in Hanoi.