Major Asian cities to seek solutions to their problems
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.