"The event will be hosted by Indonesian Minister of Trade Mari Pangestu and it will be the first time for business representatives from ASEAN, the US and other parts of the world to come together as a group in a direct dialogue with ministers and senior officials on measures to boost trade in the region," Josh Curtin, the deputy chief of mission to ASEAN, said here on Thursday.
He said the forum would first be opened by Minister Mari, US Representative for ASEAN David Carden and ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan.
After some speeches, the forum would break into several discussion groups. The groups would discuss such topics as customs reform in ASEAN, trade and facilitation, standard and development of region-wide products, technology standards, and trading and customs procedures.
Following the discussions session, a representative of each group would present the conclusions of the group discussions.
"We are looking forward to having fruitful discussions at the event," he said.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Trade Ministry`s Director for ASEAN Cooperation Iman Pambagyo said the ASEAN Trade Facilitation Forum would give the governments of ASEAn member states some inputs on how to improve trade facilitation in the region in order to achieve economic integration by 2015.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
