PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION

The main channel of private sector participation in ASEAN rests with the ASEAN-CCI, which is also the main channel of communication between ASEAN and the private sector. The ASEAN-CCI representation during SEOM and AEM meetings has been extended to the working group level. The ASEAN-CCI is invited to all meetings of SEOM and WGIC. Whenever necessary, ASEAN-CCI has also been invited to the AEM.

The Permanent ASEAN-CCI Secretariat has been established at the premises of the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. It was officially inaugurated in April 1996 during the 50th ASEAN-CCI Council Meeting. At that meeting, the Presidency of the ASEAN-CCI was turned over to Indonesia from Brunei Darussalam. Mr. Aburizal Bakrie, Chairman of KADIN, is the new President of ASEAN-CCI.

The ASEAN-CCI at its 52nd Council Meeting held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in August 1996, reaffirmed its responsibility to lead the business community in ASEAN in adapting to the changing environment in order to deal effectively with the challenges created by globalization and internationalization of business. The ASEAN-CCI reiterated its role to be involved in creating a business community in ASEAN which is competitive, dynamic and with the capacity to participate in a more, market-oriented and more internationally integrated environment.

The First ASEAN Business Summit held in Jakarta in March 1997 was organised by the ASEAN-CCI and drew some 600 participants from all over the world.