Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is to host the World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia on June 12-13, 2011, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said here on Thursday.

"We will take advantage of it because we will also host ASEAN Summit in October this year to put Indonesia in the role of leadership in ASEAN and East Asia region," Mari said.

She said it would be the first for Indonesia to host WEF after its neighbor countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Japan have ever been trusted to be the organizing committees.

"It will be the first time for us to host the World Economic Forum, and we hope Indonesia will take a leadership role and become the central power in Southeast Asia and East Asian region," Mari said.

The minister said global issues related to commodity prices volatility, food resilience, and energy resilience would be among the topics of discussion at the forum.

"The topics of discussion will be the same as that during WEF in Davos, and it will be a challenge for the government, business world, and private party to step up the industry, investment, and technology -- especially agriculture and climate change technology to face with extreme climate change," Mari said.

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Mari said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would lead Indonesia`s delegation in the 41st World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland next January 26-31,2011.

The minister said she would accompany President Yudhoyono to the forum with several senior officials such as Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Radjasa, Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo, Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, Investment Coordinating Board` (BKPM) chair Gita Wirjawan and leaders from national enterprises namely Bank Mandiri, BNI, Garuda Indonesia, Bhumi Resources, Indorama and Gunung Sewu.(*)

Editor: Ruslan Burhani
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