"CEAPAD was formed as a G-to-G (government to government) partnership, which is very formal. Hence, by involving private and business sectors, we can bring Palestine closer to its development progress."Jakarta (Antara News) - Indonesia has initiated private sector participation in strengthening Palestinian state-building efforts through CEAPADs framework.
Foreign Affairs Ministrys Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy AM Fachir stated during a press briefing here, on Wednesday, that the initiative to involve private sector in the Second Conference on Cooperation Among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD II) was an effort to make this cooperation a more concrete one.
"CEAPAD was formed as a G-to-G (government to government) partnership, which is very formal. Hence, by involving private and business sectors, we can bring Palestine closer to its development progress," Fachir explained.
As the host of CEAPAD II, which will be held on March 1, Indonesia, in cooperation with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) Middle Easts branch, will also organize a business meeting and trade expo for Palestinian businessmen and East Asian countries.
About 40 Palestinian businessmen will participate in the business event, as also businessmen from Indonesia and other CEAPAD participants, like Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Fachir added that as the host of CEAPAD II Indonesia will ensure that the partnership is given added values for other forms of cooperation that had been initiated by Indonesia to support Palestines capacity building development.
In 2008, Indonesia co-chaired the New Asian African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) with South Africa, which had agreed to support Palestinian state-building efforts by providing ten thousand capacity building trainings by 2013, one thousand of which was held by Indonesia.
"We have achieved the target by organizing 1.2 thousand capacity building training, and we want to continue and consider a synergy between NAASP and CEAPAD," Fachir elaborated.
The first meeting of CEAPAD was co-chaired by Japan and Palestine, in Tokyo, Japan on February 13-14, 2013.
During the meeting, the participants, including ministers of East Asian countries and international organizations emphasized the need for the international community, including Asian countries, to build support for Palestinian state-building efforts.
As the host of the CEAPAD II Indonesia expects the participants to present concrete contribution toward the capacity building program of Palestine based on the critical needs, including agricultural sector, tourism, information and communication technology, and light manufacturing.
Up to now, Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Palestine, United Arab Emirates (UAE) have confirmed their attendance at the CEAPAD II meeting in Jakarta. Among international organizations were Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), World Bank, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), The Arab League, and The Quartet Office (UK). (*)
Reporter: Azi Fitriyanti
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
