President Open Forum Of Indonesia MDG Awards

Nusa Dua, Bali, March 26 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono here on Tuesday opened a forum of the Indonesia Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Awards (IMA) 2012. The head of state was accompanied by Nila F Moeloek, the president`s special envoy for MDGs. IMA is an annual forum that gives appreciation to the best MDG-oriented development doers in Indonesian regions, according to a statement from Moeloek`s office. The IMA 2012 Awards will be given to 18 winning groups representing districts/cities, the private sector, NGOs, and youth organizations in five categories covering maternal and infant health, nutrition, access to clean water and sanitation, education, and eradication of HIV/AIDS as well as other infectious diseases. Two media with the best reporting on MDGs will also be awarded. The MDG programs have been implemented since the past 13 years and it is going to end in 2015. Nila Moeloek earlier said the selection of IMA 2012 winners would also consider their success in helping reduce the country`s poverty rate. She said there should be no doubt about Indonesia`s commitment to the MDGs, given the role of President Yudhoyono as a co-chair of the High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015. Indonesia has established a National Committee on the Post-2015 consisting of development experts who will help formulate the country`s position and the Asia-Pacific region in the development framework in the Post-2015. The IMA 2012 juries will include Fasli Jalal of Andalas University (West Sumatra), Executive Director of the Partnership for Administration Reform Wicaksono Sarosa, Arum Atmawikarta of the National Development Planning Agency, Heru Prasetyo, and Soedarti Surbakti.