NusaBali.com reports that the International Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) set for Bali 20-24 March 2020 and will go ahead despite surges in Omicron variant cases.
The meeting, slated to be held at the ITDC Complex in Nusa Dua, will be held with a “Bubble” approach to limit the possibility of creating a contagion cluster for COVID-19. Putu Supadma Rudana, a Balinese delegate to the People’s Consultative Assembly (DPR-RI) and the deputy-chairman of the Body for Inter-parliamentary Cooperation (BKSAP), confirms that up until this point in time, there have been no changes announced in plans to hold the major conference in Bali that that will attract some 1,200 participants from 12 countries.
Speaking on Wednesday, 09 February 2022, Supadma said: “Until this moment, it’s still on. There is not yet any location change, and the Provincial Government of Bali is very ready to host.”
The International Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) has been postponed twice in the past. Initially set to occur in 2020, the conference was shifted to 2021 before being delayed again to the new dates in March 2022.
Supadma said the International Inter-parliamentary Union Meeting organization would use a “bubble system” that will centralize all conference activities in one location, strictly limiting the opportunity for delegates to venture beyond Nusa Dua.
Supadma believes the March summit and other international events scheduled for Bali during 2022 will boost Bali’s economy, which has suffered significantly during the continuing global pandemic.
Commenting on the high rates of Omicron variant infections in Bali, including the 2,556 new cases reported on Wednesday, 09 February 2022, Supadma does not see this development as an obstacle to hosting the Inter-Parliamentary Summit in Nusa Dua this March. As proof of the suitability and capability of Nusa Dua to organize and handle a “bubble concept” event, Supadma points to the International Badminton Tournament held in Nusa Dua in late 2021.
Supadma described that the “bubble” system would require all the summits activities centered at the ITDC in Nusa Dua. The delegates would not be allowed to travel outside the complex’s environs. Adding, “The ‘Bubble Concept’ is considered the most effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
Initially, Supadma has expressed the hope that the International Inter-parliamentary Union Summit could take place without the restrictions of the “bubble concept.” At that time, he spoke of his desire that delegates be allowed to travel outside of Nusa Dua to visit Sanur and Ubud – areas considered “green-zones” due to the high rates of vaccination in place.
By involving the Sanur and Ubud areas in the coming conference, Supadma said many locally-owned hotels and businesses would benefit economically from spending by the Summit participants.
However, further investigations, including visits to Bali by advance teams preparing for the Summit, determined that the March event should be strictly limited to a bubble in Nusa Dua.
The International Inter-Parliamentary Union in Bali will discuss several strategic issues focusing on the global economy and environment. “The global parliament meeting will discuss sustainable development, the green economy, health, and human empowerment. In addition, the Summit will also discuss other agenda items that will seek the best solution for restoring the global economy in a post-COVID pandemic world,” said Supadma.
About the IPU
The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded more than 130 years ago as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. Today, the IPU comprises 179 national Member Parliaments and 13 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes democracy and helps parliaments become stronger, younger, gender-balanced, and more diverse. It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of MPs from around the world.
Twice a year, the IPU convenes over 1,500 parliamentary delegates and partners in a world assembly, bringing a parliamentary dimension to global governance, including the work of the United Nations and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
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