"This meeting is a very historic one because for the first time, Indonesia organizes a forum with the South Pacific," Retno Marsudi said.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi officially opened a series of activities of the Indonesia-South Pacific Forum (ISPF) at the Ministry, here, Thursday.

"This morning, I have opened a series of activities of the Indonesia-South Pacific Forum or ISPF in Jakarta to increase (Indonesia's) role and presence in South Pacific," Marsudi remarked.

Representatives from 15 countries in the South Pacific region participated in the forum themed "Our future, shared ocean, shared prosperity."

"This meeting is a very historic one because for the first time, Indonesia organizes a forum with the South Pacific," she pointed out.

During the meeting, the Indonesian government and representatives of South Pacific countries held a meeting to discuss maritime economy and connectivity. The ISPF was also hosted in parallel with Business Engagement, business exhibitions, consultations on Preferential Trade Agreement between Indonesia and several countries in the South Pacific, and initiation of Technical Cooperation.

The Business Engagement program brought together entrepreneurs from Pacific Island countries to discuss opportunities and challenges in building sustainable business relationships.

Foreign officials and businessmen from Australia, Federation of Micronesia, Fiji, New Caledonia, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Tonga and Tuvalu, and the Melanesian Spearhead Group attended the forum.

"The ISPF will explore any potential options to strengthen cooperation with countries and territories in the region while building a common understanding as an archipelagic nation with similar characteristics and challenges," Desra Percaya, the director general of Asia-Pacific and African Affairs of the ministry, noted in a press conference recently.

Translator: Yuni A Sinaga, Fardah
Editor: Suharto
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