26
Annual Report 2013
EIBD
U-INDONESIAN
BUSINESS DIALOGUE
Connecting European and Indonesian business leaders and
deepening the ties between the EU and Indonesia
Started in 2011, the ACTIVE project, co-financed by the EU Commission, was the product
of a joint collaboration between the five European Chambers of Industry and Commerce
(IFCCI, INA, BritCham, EuroCham and EKONID), KADIN and Indonesian sector associations.
Under the lead of INA, all organizations worked together to strengthen the capacity of
the Indonesian business associations (KADIN and the Indonesian sector associations)
to effectively lobby for the joint interests of the Indonesian business community; and
to improve the business climate in Indonesia and ensure open trade and investment
conditions.
The business associations are key drivers of improvement in the trade and investment
climate. Through its seven trainingsonvarious topics (e.g. advocacy&concept development,
newmember services, event management), EKONID, together with INA and KADIN, helped
no less than six Indonesian sector associations to equip for this role.
In parallel, EKONID took a coordinating role in the design and implementation of the action
plan in the automotive sector. For more than two years EKONID, together with EuroCham
and GAIKINDO (The Association of Indonesia Automotive Industries) organized working
groups, workshops and seminars, conceptualized capacity building programs adapted to
the industry’s needs, as well as prepared detailed position papers evaluating the existing
trade and investment conditions in the sector and identify areas for growth. Through the
two years, EKONID enhanced the relationship between Indonesian and European business
and government stakeholders and during several Business-to-Government dialogues, gave
the opportunity to representatives from the automotive industry to highlight to their
respective governments where priority should be given.
Direct results of the ACTIVE project were the two very successful EIBD; 2012 in Bali and
2013 in Jakarta. For both editions, the EIBD conference gathered no less than 250 to 300
participants. Over the years, the EIBD has granted a forumwhere European and Indonesian
business leaders connect with each other as well as develop recommendations to improve
the business climate and deepen the bilateral ties between the EU and Indonesia. Both EIBD
conferences therefore submitted very strong statements from the business community
towards the signature of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between
Indonesia and the European Union (to date still under discussion).
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