...CSR can help manage the supply chain for the company and encourage it to continue operating in a country for a long time."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is supporting the corporate responsibility programs conducted by private parties in its efforts to sustain investment in the region, according to an official.
"CSR is no longer considered as a charity event. It can also be productive for the company and help improve the investment climate. CSR can help manage the supply chain for the company and encourage it to continue operating in a country for a long time," Director for Regional Cooperation from Indonesia`s Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Rizar Indomo Nazaroedindi, said here on Thursday.
Speaking after attending the Senior Official Meeting of APEC held in Jakarta on Thursday, Rizar stated that APEC economies should focus not only on deregulation and efforts to reduce investment barriers in the region, but also on how to sustain their current investments.
"Maintaining investment in the region is becoming increasingly important today as the global economic slowdown continues," he noted.
"Indonesia, as the host of APEC this year, wants the Asia-Pacific region to be more resilient to the global economic crisis. APEC members must become the growth engines of the world economy," Rizar added.
Indonesia is hosting the APEC meeting for the second time since the inception of the organisation. In 1994, Indonesia hosted the APEC Summit in Bogor, West Java, where APEC leaders adopted the Bogor goals. The goals involved free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region by 2010 for industrialized economies, and by 2020 for developing economies.
In order to achieve the Bogor goals, APEC focused on three areas: trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation, and economic and technical cooperation.
In 2013, the APEC meeting will focus on the expansion of trade and investment, as well as on structural reforms.
As part of APEC's efforts to achieve sustainable growth with equity in the region, the meeting will also focus on financial inclusion, food security and health. It will also discuss ways to improve the global competitiveness of SMEs.
In order to improve regional connectivity, APEC will focus on physical connectivity (by increasing investment in infrastructure development), maritime connectivity (blue economy), institutional connectivity and people-to-people connectivity.
In his annual speech on January 4, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa stated Indonesia would "reap significant benefits by hosting the APEC Summit".
"We are confident that APEC, under Indonesia's leadership, will add significant value to the national economic growth and the welfare of the citizens of its member countries, without ignoring the needs of the international community," he said.
Established in 1989, APEC is an economic cooperation forum for 21 Pacific Rim countries: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. (A051/BSR/A014)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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