25 experts from 11 ASEM countries gathered at an Expert Meeting in Yogyakarta (12 to 14 July 2012) to discuss “Managing Heritage Cities in Asia and Europe: The Role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)”. This took place ahead of the ‘Fifth Culture Ministers’ Meeting of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM CMM)’ in September 2012.
During the three-day meeting in Yogyakarta, the experts prepared a series of recommendations for the ASEM Culture Ministers. They outlined the urgent need for public institutions to co-operate with private stakeholders in all phases of planning, implementation, monitoring and management of heritage cities. They also emphasised the value that urban heritage enhancement adds to cities by bringing economic development and social vitality. They stressed that heritage must be thought of in terms of socio-economic benefits and profits, and not in terms of costs and liabilities.
ASEF will present the full set of recommendations at the ASEM CMM, in keeping with its mandate to channel civil society recommendations to ASEM governments.
During a Public Forum (12 July 2012), attended by over 150 people, the participating experts engaged with representatives from local NGOs and Indonesian government agencies as well as faculty members and students from Universitas Gadjah Mada. These experts were representatives from different organisations, including ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property), and International National Trusts Organisation (INTO).
The Expert Meeting was organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the Centre for Heritage Conservation, Department of Architecture and Planning at the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada.