CEAPAD II FOCUSES ON PRIVATE SECTOR FOR PALESTINIAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Jakarta , 19 Rabiul Akhir 1435/19 February 2014 (MINA) – Indonesia will host the second Conference on Cooperation Among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD ), which will be held on 28 February to 2 March 2014.

The Director General Information and Public Diplomacy Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Mohammad Abdurrrahman Fachir on Wednesday explained that the conference will be opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhono and attended by the Prime Minister of Palestine in the West Bank, Rami Hamdallah.

On the side line of CEAPAD ministerial meeting, it also held a business forum and trade expo, beside seminars and exhibition of product from Palestine. The forum and expo aim at increasing participation of the private sectors in Palestine’s economic development.

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The High officials of the Foreign Ministry also urged the event to form a good cooperation to accelerate effectively the welfare of Palestinian people whom they are still under Israeli occupation.

Meanwhile , the Director General for Technical Cooperation , Siti Nugraha Mauludiah stated, although this CEAPAD was initiated by Japan, but Indonesia is fully supporting the conference. “Up to now, Indonesia has been providing training in various skills to 1,200 Palestinians, ” she said .

The conference will be attended by representatives of all ASEAN countries, five international organizations, the three East Asian countries (China, Japan and South Korea), and 13 observer countries from Europe and Amecica.

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Indonesian Foreign Minister, Marti Natalegawa said in the first CEAPAD conference in Japan, February 2013, Indonesia would help the private sector to play an active role in the development of Palestine .

CEAPAD II will be held on 28 February to 2 March 2014 in Jakarta. The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudoyono is expected to officially open the event, attended by the Prime Minister of Palestine, Ramy Hamdallah to deliever a Keynote Speech at the conference.

As for Indonesia, CEAPAD is a complementary coordination mechanism from commitment of the New Asian African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) on capacity building for Palestine.( P04/IR ) .

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Palestine was one of the first countries to recognize and fully support the independence of Indonesia on August 17, 1945. At that time, Shaykh Muhammad Amin al -Husayni , the Grand Mufti of Palestine openly declared his support for the independence of Indonesia. (L/P04/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)