Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono. (ANTARA/Wahyu Putro A/foc/pri/nbl)
JAKARTA – Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono has said that he is optimistic ASEAN will become an epicenter of growth, as envisioned by Indonesia, which is chairing the regional grouping this year.
"The ASEAN Summit is not merely a ceremonial event, but we believe it will create more concrete actions, and ASEAN will be an epicenter of growth," he stated in a statement released on Thursday.
He expressed the hope that the ASEAN Summit will run smoothly until it concludes, and all cooperation forged between ASEAN member states will have a concrete impact, thereby helping realize the theme of Indonesia's chairmanship, "ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth."
For the 42nd ASEAN Summit, Hadimuljono has been made the person in charge of the summit’s organization and logistics, as per Presidential Decision No. 5 of 2023 on the 2023 ASEAN chairmanship national committee.
The minister said he is keen to ensure that all aspects of the ASEAN Summit, including the arrival and departure of leaders of ASEAN countries, as well as the security and safety aspects, run smoothly.
He added that weather modification operations have also been conducted to anticipate inclement weather that could disrupt summit activities.
According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), there are risks of rain from the afternoon to evening; hence, on May 10–11, weather modification operations took place with cooperation with National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Transportation Ministry, and the military.
Earlier on Wednesday, Hadimuljono welcomed Brunei Darussalam Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah when he arrived at Labuan Bajo's Komodo Airport to attend the ASEAN Summit.
The minister was also present when the sultan took the flight back from Labuan Bajo on Thursday noon. (Antara)
