Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Six Indonesian prominent companies have set up an Indonesian Business Council for Sustainable Development (IBCSD), which is a chapter of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Representatives of the six companies here Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize the establishment of IBCSD.

The companies are Asia Pacific Resources International Ltd (APRIL), BNI 46, PT Garuda Indonesia, PT Medco Power Indonesia, PT Bakrie Telecom and PT Holcim Indonesia.

The signing ceremony was attended by among others Industry Minister MS Hidayat, State Minister for the Environment Gusti Muhammad Hatta, Chairman of the Climate Change National Council Rachmat Witoelar, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) Suryo Bambang Sulisto, and Special Adiviser of the WBCSD Indonesia Neil Franklin.

Minister Hidayat said the setting up of IBCSD was in line with his ministry`s vision which is to make Indonesia a strong industrialized nation by 2020 by applying the sustainable development concept.

The concept covered three synergistic aspects, namely the economic, social and environmental aspects.

The industrial sector contributed around 47.9 percent of the country`s total gas emission in the energy usage.

"The synergy between the objective of the sustainable development and the response toward the climate change impacts is crucial," the minister added.

Environmental Affairs Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said the sustainable development concept must be applied consistently by all stakeholders, particularly those from the business sector.

KADIN Chairman Suryo Bambang said he hailed the initiative to establish the IBCSD.(*)

(f001/HAJM/F001)

Editor: Ruslan Burhani
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