APEC 2013: When the World Turns to Bali, Indonesia

AFB - Chosen as venue for the 8Th APEC Summit 2013, the fabled island of Bali is today filled with top leaders of the world who arrived here almost simultaneously. Among these are 21 member country leaders, 4 observer countries’ leaders, and thousands of business and media delegates. The event attracted the attention of the media, among which 70 percent are international media.
 
Although USA President, Barrack Obama has confirmed his absence in Nusa Dua, Bali, due to domestic budget issue, yet security for the Summit remains tight. Acting on behalf of the President is US Secretary of State, John Kerry, who assured the Forum that US interest in APEC remains high.


Meanwhile, 10 leaders of APEC arrived in Bali on Sunday 6th October 2013. Among whom were: the President of Peru, Sebastián Piñera Echenique (11.30 Central Indonesia Time); President of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino III (11.45 Central Indonesia Time); Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (16.00 Central Indonesia Time), Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key (14.00 Central Indonesia Time); President of South Korea, Park Geun-hye (15.00 Central Indonesia Time),and Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbot (17.50 Central Indonesia Time).
 
Next were the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe (18.15 Central Indonesia Time); Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mohammad Najib bin Abdul Razak (18.20 Central Indonesia Time); Prime Minister of Canada , Stephen Harper (19.35 Central Indonesia Time), and President of Viet Nam, Truong Tan Sang (20.00 Central Indonesia Time). Meanwhile, President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, is scheduled to touch down at the Ngurah Rai International Airport on Monday 7th October at 13.00 Central Indonesia Time.

 
For security measures, the joint APEC Summit Security Command has deployed F-16 Fighting Falcon aircrafts, flown in from the Air Force' main base in Madiun, East Java. In addition to personnel from the Air Force Special Battalion 463, the Air Force Military Police, and the K-9 Brigade Forces were also deployed to secure the event.
 
The arrival of so many world leaders will inevitably turn the spotlight of the world on the resort island of Bali, Indonesia, for a few days. Until 8th October, it would appear that significant activities of the world will temporarily be moved to the most popular island in Indonesia since so many prominent world figures congregate here to interact, discuss, and address global economical issues.
 
For the event, Bali has prepared herself for all the necessary infrastructure and supporting facilities including adequate hotels and convention venues and facilites. These include hundreds of APEC helpdesk receptionists recruited from the Bali Institute of Tourism and other universities on the island.
 
Meanwhile thousands of journalists covering the APEC 2013 are also facilitated with 4G internet acces and international Direct Dialing (IDD) communications which cover 200 countries worldwide. These services are provided by the national Telecommunication company ,Telkom inc.
 
The organizing committee has similarly provided various supporting facilities on the 3rd floor of the Nusa Dua Convention Center and one floor at the main building of the complex. Aside from that, journalists are also provided with computer-printer facilities, broadcast room, editing room, and a mini studio.
 
APEC countries Private Planes Parked in Bandung
Not only Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali is bustling with activities, the Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung, West Java has become the parking area for a number of private planes of CEO delegations to APEC.

General Manager of Bandung’s Husein Sastranegara Airport, Yaya Hendrayani stated that a number of private planes of the APEC countries delegations are ‘parked’ in Bandung due to the fact that the Ngurah Rai Airport does not have sufficient parking space for these special planes. The planes currently parked at the Airforce base of Husein Sastrangera Airport are guarded with special security from the Indonesian Air Force.

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