RI to host first Asia-Africa Business Summit

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.