akarta is expected to become the think-tank hub for policies on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through an initiative to hold regular Asian ministerial meetings in the capital city.
"This is Indonesia's initiative, which has been approved by Asian members of the ICSB [International Council for Small Business], to hold the ministerial events between two annual conferences," ICSB Indonesia president Hermawan Kartajaya said in Jakarta on Thursday, as quoted by news agency Antara.
Hermawan is also the president of the Asian Council for Small Business (ACSB), the regional arm of the ICSB, which has 11 member countries.
(Read also: Govt aims to boost SME exports to African countries)
The sixth ACSB conference will be held in Myanmar in October, while the seventh conference is slated to happen in September next year in Japan.
Meanwhile, the first Ministerial Open Forum (MOF) was expected to take place in May next year, Hermawan said, adding that it was planned to be held annually and permanently in Jakarta.
Hermawan, who is also a special staff member to Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Anak Agung Gede Ngurah Puspayoga, emphasized the importance of the ministerial meeting as a chance for Asian policymakers to share their experiences on SMSE policies.
"Hence, Jakarta will be a kind of center for MSME-related policymaking in Asia," he said, expressing his hope that government officials would join forces to support the initiative’s implementation. (prm/bbn)
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