RI to host first Asia-Africa Business Summit

Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As a prelude to the upcoming Asia-Africa Conference next month, Indonesia will host the first Asia-Africa Business Summit, which aims to encourage investment and trade between the two continents.

Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairman Mohammad S. Hidayat announced on Tuesday 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 will be to help open up business opportunities between countries from the two continents," he said.

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

Hidayat added that on April 26, Kadin would also host a special luncheon between China and Indonesia, in 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 a closer ties with Indonesia," Hidayat said.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Asia-Africa Conference will have delegations from 105 countries, and as many as 45 heads of state and governments have confirmed their attendance so far.

Among the delegations, there will be private sector and chambers of commerce representatives, Hidayat said, adding that Kadin would also invite prominent CEOs from firms across the region.

Officials here will also host of a series of events, including a ministerial meeting on April 20, the Asia-Africa Summit (AAS) from April 22 to April 23 in Jakarta and the golden jubilee, commemorating the 1955 Asia-Africa Summit on April 24 in Bandung, West Java.