Jakarta (ANTARA News) - ASEAN Foundation Executive Director Dr. Makarim Wibisono received Ancora Foundation Chief Executive Officer Atria Rai to discuss a possible partnership between the two foundations here on Wednesday.

"Dr. Makarim Wibisono briefed his guest on the mandate and activities of the ASEAN Foundation and the areas that are now the priorities of the foundation," the ASEAN Foundation said in a statement.

He said the ASEAN Foundation attached great importance to efforts to accelerate the process to form an ASEAN community and accordingly was helping the efforts by among other things partnering closely with the CSR (corporate social res[onsibilities)s of regional and international enterprises to assist the foundation in supporting various activities and enhance interaction among ASEAN stakeholders.

Atria Rai, who was flanked by Ancora Foundation`s Director Titus Dewanto and Astrid Hayati of PA CSR, said the Ancora Foundation was a non-profit organization in Indonesia focusing on education for students of the nation with program emphasizing to increase opportunities and equity for those most in need.

She further said Ancora Foundation`s vision was to build a nation of character by helping to educate future government and business leaders, policy-makers, and opinion-shapers who can make a significant contribution to the development of Indonesia.

Rai explained that in realizing its vision, the Ancora Foundation was actively building strategic partnerships with other non-profit organizations and institutions with similar goals.

To this end, Rai said, Ancora Foundation was prepared to collaborate in a partnership with the ASEAN Foundation to improve the quality of education in Indonesia as well as in other ASEAN member countries.

Dr. Makarim Wibisono welcomed partnerships with other organizations, corporate bodies and the private sectors for collaboration that are geared towards enhancing human resources of ASEAN. He said the ASEAN Foundation was conducting scholarship programs for ASEAN nationals to further their studies in leading ASEAN universities.

Dr. Wibisono agreed that both the ASEAN Foundation and the Ancora Foundation should further explore possible collaboration in areas of education that were supportive towards the establishment of the ASEAN Community by 2015. Dr. Makarim Wibisono was joined by his staff, Renelle Ivy Adan, the foundations`head of programs, and Septania Kadir, programs coordinator.
(Uu.F001/HAJM)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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