Special team set up for 2013 Bali Summit

The Indonesian government has officially established a special committee to prepare for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which will be held in Bali in 2013.

Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the government had set up a team of ministers who would be responsible for ensuring that Indonesia becomes a good host during the summit.

“The main team will be headed by Foreign Minister [Marty Natalegawa]. The head of the organizing team will be State Secretary [Sudi Silalahi], and the head of the infrastructure team will be [Tourism and Creative Economy Minister] Mari Pangestu,” Hatta said, adding that he would be in overall charge of the group.

Hatta was discussing preparations for the summit at his office with Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo, Mari, Sudi and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik.

Meanwhile, Agus said that as in the previous summit, Indonesia would represent the interests of
developing countries at the 2013 APEC Summit.

Agus said that the government had prepared three main themes to be discussed at the summit. “The Finance Ministry is still discussing the proposed themes and will submit them to the President as soon as possible,” he said.

Hatta said that one of the themes would concern economic development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Deputy Transportation Minister Bambang Susantono said all the preparation of infrastructure for the summit, such as the expansion of Ngurah Rai International Airport and the construction of a new toll road, had run as expected.

“The renovation and expansion of the airport in Bali is still on track. This project will be finished in May,” he said.

Bambang said that Selaparang Airport in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, would also be utilized as a parking lot for the aircraft of state leaders throughout the summit.

The development of toll roads which connect Tanjung Benoa and Nusa Dua and Ngurah Rai would also be finished by mid 2012, according to Hatta.

APEC, established in 1989, is an international forum of 21 states located in the Asia-Pacific region. The forum aims to promote free trade and cooperation among its member states.

The population of APEC member states accounts for around 40 percent of the world’s population. APEC members also contribute around 54 percent of the world’s gross domestic product and 44 percent of world trade.

Despite APEC’s considerable influence on the world economy, the forum itself is often criticized for failing to create concrete results or serving a useful purpose. The criticism has come particularly from European countries, which cannot take part in the forum’s activities.

— JP/Hans David Tampubolon