Ministers to attend trade workshop

Ministers to attend trade workshop

JAKARTA (JP): Four cabinet ministers and the central bank
governor will present their keynote speeches at a three-day
workshop of the Ministry of Trade, which is to begin today.

"Coordinating Minister for Industry and Trade Hartarto will
present his paper on the government's policy on industry and
trade, aimed to promote the efficiency and competitiveness of
Indonesia's products in the era of free trade," a trade ministry
spokeswoman, Lily Rosyana, said in a statement over the weekend.

State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie will
discuss policies on technological development, Minister of Trade
Satrio B. Joedono on trade policies, Minister of Manpower Abdul
Latief on productivity enhancement and Governor of Bank Indonesia
J. Soedradjad Djiwandono on macroeconomy policies supporting
competition.

The trade ministry's first echelon officials and some business
executives will speak on the second and third days of the
workshop which is to take place at the ministry's office.

Fadel Muhammad, Hari Darmawan, Steve Sondakh, Dewi Motik
Pramono and Bob Sadino will be among the speakers.

All papers and topics to be discussed in the workshop will
focus on free trade.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has committed to
liberalizing trade among its members by the year 2003, while the
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation will start liberalization in
trade and investment by 2010 for its developed member economies
and by 2020 for its developing members. (kod)