Getting Set for APEC

The National government has set up a special committee to make sure preparations are in order for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC) scheduled to be held in Bali in late 2013.

The team, comprised of a group of cabinet ministers, will be headed by the Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, andTourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu. The group will be under the overall supervision of Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa.

A recent planning meeting held at Hatta’s office saw Finance MinisterAgus Martowardojo, Pangestu, Sudi and Energy and Mineral Resource Minister Jero Wacik in attendance. 

Indonesia, as the host for the Summit will propose the themes for the conference, which Indonesia says, will be dedicated to improving the economic lot of the poor in the Asia-Pacific region.

Bali is gearing up for the Summit via a number of large infrastructure projects that include a massive rebuilding of Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport, the construction of a new toll way and the creation of an underpass at the Simpang Siur intersection in Kuta.

Because of the many head of state delegations expected to attend the Bali Summit, the recently completed Selaparang International Airport in nearby Lombok will be used to park their official aircraft during the meetings.

APEC is an international forum comprised of 21 states from the Asia-Pacific region whose populations represent 40% of the world’s population.

Source: BaliDiscovery.com