Jakarta – The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Indonesia) welcomed a visit from the Mayor of Kendari as part of preparations for Kendari City to host the United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) 2026. The meeting took place at Menara Kadin Indonesia in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Wednesday (April 8, 2026).

Kadin Indonesia Vice Chairman Coordinator for Legal and Human Rights Affairs as well as Infrastructure, M. Azis Syamsuddin, stated that as of now, a total of 96 mayors from the Asia-Pacific region have confirmed their attendance at the UCLG ASPAC forum, which is scheduled to take place on May 7–9, 2026, in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi Province.

“As conveyed during the meeting earlier, as of today, 96 mayors have confirmed their attendance,” Azis said.

Meanwhile, Mayor of Kendari Siska Karina Imran emphasized her intention to build synergy with Kadin in ensuring the success of the international event.

“We hope that this event will not only be successful in its implementation, but also bring benefits to the city of Kendari, the business community, the public, and Indonesia as a whole,” she stated.

Siska added that preparations have reached approximately 70 percent and continue to be refined ahead of the event.

“Our expectation is that the UCLG ASPAC event will generate tangible benefits for Kendari, Kadin, the community, and of course our beloved country, Indonesia,” she explained.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Kadin Southeast Sulawesi Province, Anton Timbang, stated that Kendari’s appointment as host represents a major trust that must be utilized optimally.

Anton affirmed that Kadin Southeast Sulawesi is fully prepared to provide support for the success of the event, which will also coincide with the 195th anniversary of Kendari City.

“For this, Kadin Southeast Sulawesi is ready to give full support!” Anton asserted.

On another note, Kadin Indonesia Vice Chairman for Regional Autonomy, Sarman Simanjorang, said that the UCLG ASPAC forum aims to discuss sustainable development issues, including economic growth and regional transformation. According to him, Kendari’s appointment serves as a strategic momentum to promote regional potential, particularly in the tourism sector.

“This event is a major opportunity to showcase Kendari’s potential, especially its marine tourism and leading commodities. We hope this momentum will help drive more productive regional economic growth,” Sarman concluded.

UCLG ASPAC is one of the regional sections of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), formed through the merger of three major organizations: the International Union of Local Authorities (IULA), the United Towns Organization (UTO), and the World Association of the Major Metropolises (METROPOLIS). UCLG was officially established on January 1, 2004, and is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain.

With a network covering more than 7,000 cities and local governments, UCLG ASPAC represents over 3.76 billion people, or more than half of the world’s population. The region includes rapidly growing economies such as China, India, and Indonesia.

Also attending virtually via Zoom was Kadin Indonesia Vice Chairman for Organization, Taufan Eko Nugroho, while Kadin Indonesia Executive Director Pipin Moh. Saeful Arifin attended in person.