Govt preparing national-scale summit

Erwida Maulia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 10/24/2009 2:38 PM

The new government is making preparations ahead of next week's National Summit, which will involve more than 1,000 stakeholders across the country in the planning of the national development for the next five years.

The summit, to be held on Oct. 29-31, will draw participants comprising governors from the country's 33 provinces, mayors and regents, regional- and central-level legislators, aside of the 34 new Cabinet ministers and other high-rank officials, among others.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Radjasa said in a press conference here Saturday that the summit would also involve non-governmental organizations, commerce and industry chambers, university representatives and observers.

"All the stakeholders are expected to have dynamic discussions over the summit's topics... The government will take all inputs into considerations," Hatta said after a coordination meeting on the summit's preparations led by Vice President Boediono at the Vice Presidential Palace on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan.

"Therefore we hope all parties will feel involved in the making of Indonesia in the next five years, which will hopefully turn better and more prosperous and manage to achieve its targets," he added.

Hatta said the Summit would be opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono next Thursday, who would convey his visions of Indonesia in the next five years.

Afterward participants will be divided into three major groups discussing economic matters; political, legal and security affairs; and welfare issues.

Hatta said in the economic field, participants would be divided into six commissions, comprising those discussing infrastructure, food, energy, industrial revitalization, transportation, and small and medium enterprises and service industry.

"For each topic we will raise a number of issues, such as financing in infrastucture development. How's to make people interested in public-private partnership, land acquisitions, etc," he said.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto said his field would be divided into five commissions, i.e. those on regional autonomy, public service and bureaucratic reform, graft combat and prevention, law reform, and fight against terrorism and preventive measures.

"Although the topics have been set out, the commissions' meetings will be opened to other issues emerging at the floor," Djoko said.

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono said the welfare sector would be also divided into five commissions: poverty, job creation, education, health, and climate change.

"We will invite labor and professional organizations to take part in the discussions of the job creation commission," Agung said.

Similar summit was held in 2004 at the beginning of Yudhoyono's presidency for the 2004-2009 term.

The Saturday's coordination meeting was also attended by State Minister for National Development Planning Armida Alisyahbana and head of the presidential work unit for development monitoring and control (UKP4) Kuntoro Mangkusubroto.

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