Palestine's priority is to end the illegal occupation of Palestinian land by IsraelJakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia participated in a senior officials' meeting (SOM) of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) held in Ramallah, Palestine, for the first time, on July 3-4, 2019.
The Third SOM of CEAPAD is a commitment of East Asian countries to providing direct support to Palestine.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyen officially opened the meeting and launched CEAPAD Trade Day in Jericho, the West Bank, the Indonesian Embassy in Amman, Jordan, said in a statement on Sunday.
Palestine's priority is to end the illegal occupation of Palestinian land by Israel, Shtayyeh said.
Hence, economic development is a supporting means in the Palestinian agenda to fight and end the colonialism, he added.
Cecep Herawan, Director General for Information and Public Diplomacy of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, who led the Indonesian delegation in the meeting, said Indonesia always plaid active roles in providing capacity building programs to support the human resources development and strengthen the economy of Palestine.
This year, the Indonesian Government and people have given more than US$1 million to Palestine through capacity building programs and in cash.
The support was a follow up of Indonesia's commitment voiced by Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi during the CEAPAD Ministerial Meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 2018, and during her visit to Jordan last March.
Indonesian Ambassador to Jordan and Palestine Andy Rachmianto said Indonesia had carried out several projects for Palestine, including renovation of Indonesia Hospital in Gaza, a plan to build a trauma and rehabilitation center in Hebron, Indonesian language courses in Hebron and Bethlehem, and providing humanitarian aid for Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as in Jordan.
Indonesia's delegation to CEAPAD meeting included several businessmen who held a business meeting with tens of Palestinian businessmen during the Trade Day event.
The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and the Palestinian Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), at the present of the Palestinian Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, National Economic Minister, and Tourism Minister.
During their stay in Palestine, Indonesia's delegation also held meetings with the Palestinian Economic Minister, the Director of Bank of Palestine, and the Chairman of the Palestine-Indonesia Friendship Association (PIFA), as well as visited the office of Wafaa Foundation for Micro Finance and Capacity Building, and the office of Indonesian Honorary Consul in Ramallah.
Translator: Yashinta DP, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
