Indonesia to Host Two International Events in 2018, Says President Jokowi

President Jokowi wants preparations for Asian Games to be finalized.

 
Jakarta, 04 Jumadil Akhir 1438/02 March 2017 (MINA) – Indonesia will host two major international events next year that must be managed properly, according to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

“The first event is the Asian Games and the second is the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank (IMF-WB) annual meeting,” President Jokowi remarked while chairing a limited cabinet meeting at his office here on Thursday.

During the meeting, also attended by Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla, Jokowi stated that he had appointed Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan to chair the IMF-WB annual meeting in 2018.

The president explained that the IMF-WB annual meeting in Indonesia will be attended by around 1.5 thousand participants from countries around the world.

There will be some 33 thousand athletes from several Asian countries participating in the Asian Games 2018.

“Sound preparations must be made for these two major international events and must be reviewed every month,” the president remarked.

He pointed out that the two international events — the IMF-WB annual meeting and the Asian Games — must be utilized properly for the interest of the state and nation.

Asian Games a matter of pride

On a separate occasion, the president urged that all preparations for the Asian Games must proceed on time, as it was a matter of pride and will underline Indonesia’s capabilities in hosting the games.

Hence, the president called on the relevant ministers to focus on three main areas: infrastructure readiness, the competitiveness of Indonesian athletes, and transportation facilities between Jakarta and Palembang, the two cities that will host the Asian Games XVII.

“I have urged ministers to submit the details on the progress of the preparations being made for the Asian Games,” Jokowi noted.

With regard to the transportation facilities, the president directed the ministers to ensure development of such facilities in provinces surrounding Jakarta, such as West Java and Banten. The sports event will be centered around these two areas.

Indonesia will be hosting the Asian Games XVII from August 18 to September 2, 2018. The games will have at least 40 sporting events. (T/RS05/RS01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)