Semarang Hosts 55th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting

TEMPO.CO, Semarang - The 55th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting would be held in Padma Hotel, Semarang City, Central Java. The series of meeting events would start today until August 22, 2023.

Semarang was chosen for its long history in social and cultural fields. “As the capital city of Central Java Province, the city of Semarang has a long history rooted in the ancestors of the Demak Kingdom,” Director General of International Trade Negotiations at the Trade Ministry, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, said on Friday, August 18, 2023.

Djatmiko said Semarang used to be a trading center and gateway for the Central Java region. “With a beautiful history and balanced with well-organized infrastructure, Semarang undoubtedly deserves to be a place we want to show to the world,” he said.

According to him, hundreds of delegates from 23 countries, various international organizations, and international business associations would attend the ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting. “We hope [this event] will boost the economy of Semarang in particular and Indonesia in general,” he added.

The meeting will also be attended by ASEAN dialogue partners including China, South Korea, Japan, India, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as strategic partners, namely the United States, the European Union, Canada, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

The series of ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meetings include the launch of the new ASEAN Tariff Search portal, the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation expansion in particular areas, the launch of the registration of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), and the signing of the Second Amendment Protocol to the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA).

There would also be side events involving Indonesian small and medium enterprises (SMEs), such as the SME Workshop Series, the launch of the ASEAN online shopping day, and the launch of the AEM Exhibition with SMEs participation. “We are also showcasing sustainable products and SME products from Semarang and its surrounding areas,” said Djatmiko.

JAMAL ABDUN NASHR

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