World Economic Forum to be Held April 2015- Host City- Jakarta

Another large event of world significance is happening this month in Jakarta is the World Economic Forum, which takes place from the 19th to 21st of April in Jakarta. The Forum brings together over 650 leaders and top business executives from international companies. Discussion topics relate to the significant and full potential of the economic landscape, achieving means to create a circular economy within Asia to promote regenerative flows of manufacturing supply chains. Indonesia, Myanmar, and Vietnam are some of the nations which are rising at a phenomenal rate. As the sponsoring host of the Forum, and with a new dynamic President interested in opening up avenues for investment, Indonesia is well positioned to attraction more attention from the global  investment community in projects around maritime development, infrastructure, goods movement, and forms of sustainable energy generation.

These two coinciding events point to an opportunity for raising the visibility of Indonesia and opportunities to bring sound sustainable and transparent investment from new and more transparent sources, supporting President Jokowi’s agenda. Besides setting a strong commitment to cooperation among Asian and African nations, the Conference is an opportunity to bring courage to elevate transparency and to “adopt..bravery towards people’s prosperity”, according to University of Pajajaran professor Arry Bainus. 

Global Markets Sustainable Solutions

Kerja Sama attended the US Department of Commerce “Discover Global Markets: Sustainable Solutions” Conference held in Silicon Valley, CA Feb 9-11, 2015.  Some of the interesting topics included a “Sustainable Manufacturing”  presentation by Sudeep Rao, PhD of Slow Tech Labs-Sonoma County, CA ; a discussion on “ Water & Land Use”, moderated by Jeremy Potash of the California Asia Business Council. The event enabled connections between madefascinating speakers, and the U.S. Commercial Service officers from various countries and continents. A highlight for Kerja Sama was an opportunity to  talk with Mr. Arun Kumar, Deputy Director for Global Markets, U.S. Department of Commerce. Mr. Kumar expressed curiosity and encouragement at the concept of the Bay Area to Indonesia partnership, and suggested looking at the Smart Global Cities of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as a way for Kerja Sama USA to participate, as a team, in a private public sector partnership towards solving urban challenges faced by Indonesian cities today.

60th Anniversary of the Asia Africa Conference of 1955 Celebrated in Bandung April 2015

In April, 1955, representatives from twenty-nine governments of Asian and African nations, many newly independent from colonialism,  gathered in Bandung, Indonesia to discuss peace and the role of the Third World in the Cold War, economic development, and decolonization. The core principles of the Bandung Conference were political self-determination, mutual respect for sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs, and equality. These issues were of central importance to all participants in the conference, most of which had recently emerged from colonial rule.

The governments of Burma, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka co-sponsored the Bandung Conference, and they brought together an additional twenty-four nations from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The delegates themselves were among a “Who’s Who” of the post-colonial Independence Movement in South & SE Asia and Africa, including Sukarno of course, President of Indonesia, Jawaharlal Nehru Prime Minster of India and his daughter, Indira Gandhi, Sir John Konttalawala of Sri Langka, Muhammed Ali of Pakistan,  Prince Norodom Sinahouk of Cambodia, U Na of Burma, General Abdel Nasserof Egypt, Chou En Lai of China and others .The delegates built upon the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, worked out in negotiations between India and China in 1954, as they sought to build solidarity among recently independent nations. This year marks the 60th Anniversary of this historic Conference. The events in Bandung will culminate in a cultural exhibition, celebrating the unity and diversity, to quote the national motto, among the varied nations represented.

US Commercial Service Forum with Minister of Marine & Fisheries-Indonesia

Kerja Sama was one of eight groups present at a Silicon Valley meeting between the US Commercial Service, the Bay Area marine tech businesses and the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs & Fisheries, Ms. Susi Pudjiastuti.   Touring with the Minster, was the Director of the Planning Bureau, Nilanto Perbowo,  as well as the Director For Fisheries Industry Development, Anang Noegroho. Also on the delegation was Monica Tanuhandaru, Executive Director Kemitraan Partnership for Governance Reform, and the Minister’s Special Staff, Fika Fawzia.  With the 2nd longest coastline in the world, and with two-thirds of the Indonesian territory being ocean, the protection of the marine life, as well as improvement of the infrastructure for maritime support is a high priority of President Jokowi.  The delegation presented priorities of the administration such as prevention of foreign illegal vessels in their territory, protection of sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices,  improvements in preservation and food safety techniques.  Ms.Tanuhandaru stressed the importance of raising the quality of life for rural fishing communities, supporting  better wages and access to good equipment and technologies. The Delegation was interested to learn about innovative technological innovations by Bay Area companies, with several of the companies represented Future of Fishing.org. a local NGO, has several projects currently in Sumbawa and Lombok.    

Kerja Sama -Enhancing Port Connections

Kerja Sama participated in a Fall 2014 meeting between the Port of Oakland, Communications Director, Mr. Mike Zampa, and the Business Development Director, Ms. Beth Fisher, and SF Consul General Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Ardi Hermawan, accompanied by his staff: Mr. Bernard Loesi, Public Information and Cultural Affairs, and Ms. Karina Adisty, Vice-Consul- Economic Affairs.  Also present at the meeting to talk about trade was Mr. Rod Hirsch, U.S. Commercial Service s well as Roberto Bernardo, senior staff, Port of Oakland Communications. With the national focus on Indonesian maritime and port efficiency, there are many ways Oakland can collaborate with ports in Indonesia in ideas, infrastructure innovation and “cold iron” energy conservation.  

Bandung Creative Corridor Forum

The BCCF has settled into new home allowing it to branch into new ventures, working on solving urban problems while encouraging new innovations in design, engineering, professional services.  Margot is working on ideas to offer BCCF relative to co-working environmentsl blossoming in Oakland, with BCCF leading in approaches to create new working space for professionals who, otherwise, would be adding to crowded highways en route to office tower headquarter locations in Jakarta. Look for new design ideas in commercial development to appear in this city of some 2.5million population in the next three years.

Meeting with the Mayor of Bandung

On August 10th Margot met with the Mayor of Bandung, along with her teacher & mentor, Bu Irawati Durban Ardjo, discussing the preservation and enhancement of traditional Sundanese culture, accompanied by the five volumes of original books on the topic written by Bu Irawati.  The discussion continued on the topic of creating a regional sister city relationship between Bandung and Oakland/ Berkeley and the East Bay, allowing the exchange of the Creative City and Second City approach to enhancing creative entrepreneurism, as well as design oriented problem solving in regard to critical infrastructure.

Kerja Sama USA attends Arte-Polis Conference August 2014

II August I had the privilege of attending the Arte-Polis 6 International Conference on Creative Place making Margot attends Arte-Polis Conference August 2014lacemaking, Economy and Smart Growth. With keynote speakers from the Mayor of Bandung, Code for Mexico City, Australia University, and Univerity of Florida, the event brought together thinkers in urban policy combined with traditional and new forms of technology recording place and working to resolve critical urban issues while enhancing design value of the built environment,

Kerja Sama USA Meets U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, Robert O. Blake.

On October 9th Margot accompanied SF Indonesian Vice Consul for Economic Affairs, Bu Karina Adisty to a meeting with four U.S. Ambassadors (Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia) in an intimate gathering, discussing potential exchange enterprises as part of a tour with the U.S. ASEAN Business Council. Hosted by the Bay Area Council's Director, Sean Randolph, other guests included the Asia Society, Silicon Valley Venture Capital leaders, and the San Jose Malaysian Investment Council. Upon exchanging cards, Ambassador Blake invited futher dialogue about capitalizing on the synergy of Bandung Bay Area relations.