The Asian African Business Summit (AABS) kicked off here on Tuesday morning with the theme " Realization of Asia-Africa Partnership for Progress and Prosperity."[Special coverage]
Host Indonesia's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) said a Asia-African Business Council will be initiated as monitoring body to support the declaration made during the business summit. "Every declaration and decision made during the conference will be followed with concrete action to make sure that it's taking place, especially for the development of business cooperation between Asia and Africa,"said Noke Kiroyan, member of the organizing committee of the AABS.
Noke said some 500 representatives including government officials, diplomats and business leaders from Asia and Africa attended the one-day business summit, discussing maritime, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investments.
Noke said the business summit is also hopefully to help host Indonesia promote business and investment opportunities. "It is hoped that from this conference, there will be concrete and real investment in infrastructures and strategic industries," said the organizer.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo delivered a brief opening speech at the business summit. "I believe this forum will be a facility for the business sector to materialize Bandung Spirit through strengthening mutually- beneficial cooperation on trade and investment that give contribution to the acceleration of economy and prosperity of the people on the two continents,"said the president.
Bandung Spirit, which was put forward at the first Asian- African Conference in 1955, highlights promoting unity and cooperation among Asian and African nations.
Widodo expressed his belief that the AABS is to help initiatives and breakthroughs emerge for the arrangement of the plans to strengthen the ties between the two continents.
He said Asia and Africa have huge potentials and are to play bigger roles in world economic arena. "However, Asian and African countries also face several challenges,"said the Indonesian president.
He urged countries in Asia and Africa to develop regulations and rules which are more friendly to the business sector.
He said nations should encourage the private sector to make more investment through partnership between governments and businesses.
The business summit was launched as part of the ongoing Asian- African Conference, which runs through April 24.
