REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Jakarta will host the third congress of the Indonesian diaspora on August 12-14, 2015, President of the Indonesian Diaspora Network Global (IDN-Global) Mohamad Al Arief said.
"We have agreed to hold the third diaspora congress in August 2015," Arief stated after meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi here on Friday.
He noted that the Congress will focus on concrete programs involving smallholders in Indonesia.
During the meeting, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi appreciated the Indonesian diaspora's efforts to enhance the country's economic development.
The foreign minister stated that programs worked out by the Indonesian diaspora will yield results and will benefit the people.
The first congress of the Indonesian diaspora was held in Los Angeles, the US, in July 2012. It was attended by over 2,500 members of Indonesian diaspora.
The second congress was held in Jakarta in August and was attended by some 9,000 invitees, he added.
According to data available at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 4.6 million Indonesian citizens are currently staying abroad, across five continents. There are almost one million foreign citizens of Indonesian descents.
"These statistics should encourage us to explore the potential of Indonesian diaspora, for the benefit of the nation as well as the state," Arief said.
Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika
