Private sector to pursue deals at Business Summit

Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The nation's private sector is looking forward to the upcoming Asia Africa Business Summit, which is expected to boost trade relations between the nations of the two continents, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairman MS Hidayat said on Wednesday.

"This summit will be the first ever to connect businesspeople on the two continents.

"ASEAN countries, particularly Indonesia, could use the opportunity to build closer relationships with Africa," Hidayat said during joint press conference with Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda.

According to Hidayat, Southeast Asian countries were not traditionally close in terms of trade relations with African nations. However, he added that Malaysia and Japan had started to intensify their economic relations with the continent.

"Businesspeople are expected to have one-on-one meetings with their counterparts from certain countries during the event, not only to build trade and investment relations, but also with regard to the transfer of technology and movement of human capital," Hidayat said.

Kadin will host the Business Summit, at which CEOs and captains of industry from the two continents will meet and explore business opportunities.

Kadin is looking forward to hosting the expected 500 participants.

Hidayat said that the summit was expected to result in an Asia-Africa business forum, with regular meetings at least every two years.

"The forum's aim is to help open up business opportunities between countries from the two continents in the future," he said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to open the business summit on April 21 in Jakarta, and in the evening Kadin will host a gala dinner in which China's President Hu Jintao is scheduled to give the keynote speech.

Among the key speakers at the Business Summit will be South African President Thabo M. Mbeki, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong and Japanese PM Junichiro Koizumi.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Asia-Africa Conference will be attended by delegations from 105 countries, and as many as 56 heads of state and government have confirmed their attendance so far.

Earlier, Hidayat said that on April 26, Kadin would also host a special luncheon between China and Indonesia, at which a Chinese delegation led by Hu would meet with about 1,000 Indonesians from various professions.

"He wants to meet not only local businessmen of Chinese descent, but various Indonesian people from many groups. He wants to build closer ties with Indonesia," Hidayat said.