Seminar on decentralization

Seminar on decentralization

JAKARTA (JP): The University of Indonesia, in cooperation with
the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, will hold a
two-day international seminar on decentralization here next week.

The seminar, slated for March 20 and 21, will feature
international experts with extensive experience in China, Russia,
Brazil and other Latin American countries, Eastern Europe, South
Asia and the Philippines as well as Indonesian experts as
speakers.

The speakers will evaluate Indonesia's plans for
decentralization of power and finance in light of international
experience, the World Bank's country director for Indonesia, Mark
Baird, said in a statement.

"Given Indonesia's size, and economic and ethnic diversity,
Indonesia could benefit tremendously by decentralization ...
provided that it is well-planned, well-managed and well-timed.
But the developed world knows few decentralization success
stories, so Indonesia needs to proceed with judgment," Baird
said.