SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FOCUS OF THIS YEAR'S LID

KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 (Bernama) -- The ninth Langkawi International Dialogue
(LID) 2011, will focus on efforts to transform and advance the socio-economic
development of participating countries in an ever challenging economy.

Themed, "Enhancing Smart Partnership for Socio-Economic Transformation," the
three-day dialogue to begin on June 19 at the Putrajaya International Convention
Centre, is expected to draw 500 international and local participants.

For LID 2011, Malaysia will showcase the 1Malaysia concept which focuses on
"People First, Performance Now", the Government Transformation Programme,
Economic Transformation Programme and the New Economic Model.

"Malaysia believes that a new and innovative ideas on transformation and
socio-economic policies will emerge from the LID 2011 for mutual benefit," said
the Foreign Affairs Ministry, which is organising the LID in collaboration with
the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The participants for this year's LID include the heads of state/government,
senior officials, representatives from public and private sectors, media,
academicians, and non-government organisations from developing countries
especially from the African continent and Caribbean.

The heads of states/government expected to attend LID 2011, which is being
held for the first time under the patronage of Prime Minister Najib Razak, will
take the opportunity to exchange views with the premier on regional and
international issues.

The ministry said this year's LID has been designed with the objective of
expanding the existing social and economic network between Malaysia and
participating countries from Africa and the Carribbeans.

The dialogue forum session, which is the newly introduced format for LID
2011, will discuss three topics namely, "Realising National Visions Through
Socio-Economic Transformation," "Innovative Financing for Transformation and
"Poverty Eradication."

These sessions will be held on the first day of the LID 2011 whereby Najib
and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, heads of states/government and
emminent personalities will be the penalists for the session.

Among the value added enhancements that will be put forth for
this year's LID is the convening of the Malaysia-Africa Business Forum which has
been the mission link from previous dialogues which will be held on June 18.

The forum to be officiated by Muhyiddin will also hear the keynote address
by former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, the brain child behind the smart
partnership discussions.

The "Dialogue in the Field," is another new segment of LID 2011, whereby
participants will go on field visits as well as attend workshops at various
venue such as Proton, Sirim and the Malaysian Palm Oil Board based on the five
sub-issues of business agriculture, competitiveness in manufacturing, promoting
ICT enterprises, nurturing SME start-ups in biotechnology and climate change,
and sustainable development.

The outcome of the field trip will be reported to the leaders during the
plenary session.

For the first time also, a retreat session will be held for the heads of
states/government to exchange views in regard to the current issues on "Food and
Energy Security," Social Media for Transformation" and "Future Direction of
LID Smart Partnership."

Najib will also share his ideas on the "Global Movement of the Moderates,"
which he introduced during the 65th United Nations General Assembly last year.

Albeit, the new changes and format, the LID will continue its tradition of
being an important medium which encourages free flow of ideas and exchange of
information among developing countries.

Malaysia believes LID 2011 will make significant and lasting contributions
towards achieving its goals of smart partnership and finding feasible solutions
in addressing the various issues.

The LID series, which was held previously, had proven the results whereby
trade and business figures between Malaysian and countries in the African
continent have significantly increased and for 2010, it increased by 39 per
cent.

The African continent is seen as the economic resurgence since a decade ago
especially between 2001 and 2010, where the African continent's Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) growth stood at 5.2 per cent, per year, which was higher
than the global GDP rate of 4.2 per cent.

The enhancement and value added changes to the format and programme of LID
2011 is one of the strategic measures for Malaysia to strengthen ties between
Malaysia and countries from Africa and Caribbean.

The outcome of the dialogue will be concluded in the "Outcome Document - The
way Forward LID 2011."