Source: Jakarta Post, the (Indonesia)
Source type: Newspaper
Published on: 26 May 2010

The two-day Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) conference officially opened in Yogyakarta on Wednesday will focus on partnership and sustainable development, says a national development official.

The two-day Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) conference officially opened in Yogyakarta on Wednesday will focus on partnership and sustainable development, says a national development official.

Speaking at a joint press conference, National Development Planning Minister Armida Alisjahbana said that in terms of partnership, the meeting would focus on cooperation and achieving the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGS).

“There are developments in some developing countries that need to be enhanced, especially in the sectors of health and education,” said Armida, adding that issues related to climate change and social cohesion would dominate the topic on sustainable development.

“We will look into possible cooperation and partnerships in those sectors,” she said.

The meeting in Yogyakarta, which was officially opened by Armida and the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs, is the second ASEM development conference. The first was held in Manila, the Philippines, in April last year.

“I came here to confirm with our Asian partners that we will continue to show solidarity while exploring how to adapt our relations as Asia emerges as a global power and becomes richer,” Piebalgs said.

Europe, he said, remained the largest donor in the world providing almost 60 percent of all aid. Aid from the EU, he added, had doubled in the past decade, reaching nearly ¤50 billion in 2009.

“With this total, the European Commission gives ¤8 billion per year. And we remain a serious financial source of grants for Asia,” he said.

In Indonesia, for example, the EU provided ¤800 million from 2007-2013 for education, health, governance and trade. This, he said, excluded the 700 million provided to Indonesia from all member states and for tsunami reconstruction.

Piebalgs also expressed hope the EU aid would act as a catalyst for additional investment.

“I am aware that sole aid won’t eradicate poverty, but I believe it should be used in a way that one Euro generates two or more additional Euros,” he said.

“This is why I hope to be able to soon announce a so-called Asian Investment Facility,” he added.

The facility, according to Pie balgs, will be a blend of loan and grants involving the European Investment Bank and other investment banks.

It will offer low rates of interest with the loans guaranteed by the EU and will apply to any types of investment, especially in the field of clean energy and energy efficiency.

“We hope to have it running by this year,” he said.

ASEM is a forum that groups together 43 countries, comprising of 16 ASEAN+6 member states and 27 members of the European Union and the ASEAN Secretariat.

Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/05/27/partnership-development-conference-focus.html