ASEAN-Latin American Business Forum confirmed for 23-24 February 2012

Dr. Makarim Wibisono received a visit from Brazilian Ambassador Paulo Alberto Da Silveira Soares at the ASEAN Foundation on 16 December 2011 to discuss on preparations for the upcoming ASEAN-Latin American Business Forum 2012. Ambassador Soares confirmed the participation of Latin American dignitaries and business personalities to be present at the Forum set to be held in Jakarta on 23-24 February 2012. He said that both ASEAN and Latin American business on trade and investment can be expected to flourish through the said important Forum that will lead towards concrete actions. He hopes to see seminars, workshops and activities between ASEAN and Latin American business stakeholders to happen in 2012 in areas not only in the business sector but also transfer of knowledge on issues on environment, food safety and renewable resources.

Dr. Makarim Wibisono concurred to the idea of realizing the commitments that will transpire during the Forum into concrete actions to develop trade and business in ASEAN and Latin America as well as activities that will help solve global problems for both regions. Dr. Makarim Wibisono reiterated ASEAN Foundation’s commitment to support ASEAN community building by promoting greater awareness of ASEAN, people-to-people interaction, and close collaboration among the business sector, civil society, academia and other stakeholders on ASEAN.

Both Dr. Makarim Wibisono and Ambassador Soares trust that the Forum will pave the way for a more promising and outward looking partnership between ASEAN and Latin America.

About the Forum
The Forum is the last leg of a three-part project of the ASEAN Foundation partnering with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) which was officiated in 2009. The project is intended to promote the transfer of knowledge between Southeast Asia and Latin American countries on trade and investment and enhance collaboration between the two regions through inter-regional partnership and linkages. It specifically aims to raise awareness on trade and investment potentials through exchange of knowledge and to encourage resource mobilization to support new initiatives addressing critical needs in enhancing economic ties between the two regions. The first workshop on Prospects of Economic Relations between Southeast Asia and Latin America was held on 12 October 2009 in Jakarta, and the second workshop has been modified and expanded into a bigger conference titled Latin Business Forum 2010, held on 18 November 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. The ASEAN-Latin American Business Forum 2012 will be conducted in collaboration with relevant Indonesian government ministries, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Latin American Embassies in Indonesia.

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