20/06/2011 (Bernama) - The ninth Langkawi International Dialogue (LID) for the first time will start with a business forum, a new timely feature since its inception 16 years ago amid rising importance for smart partherships.

Themed "Enhancing Smart Partnership for Socio-Economic Transformation", this year's focus will be on efforts to transform and advance the dialogue towards enhancing socio-economic development of participating countries.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin opens the business forum tomorrow while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will open the three-day LID on Sunday.

This is the first time Najib is hosting the dialogue as the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

"We believe new and innovative ideas on transformation and socio-economic policies will emerge from the LID 2011 for mutual benefit," said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman earlier this week.

Malaysia will offer its home-grown concept of 1Malaysia, which focuses on People First, Performance Now, Government Transformation Programme, Economic Transformation Programme and the New Economic Model at the dialogue, he said.

A total of 16 heads of state and representatives have confirmed attendance. They include Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe, Tanzania President, Jakaya Kikwete, Prime Minister of Lesotho, Pakalitha Mosisili, Prime Minister of Swaziland, Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini, and Vice-President of Kenya, Kalonzo Musyoka.

"Most African countries have expressed their interest to learn more from the four pillars as most African nations regarded Malaysia as a model for development. Our success is admired by these countries," said Anifah.

Precisely the reason for moving LID from Langkawi to Putrajaya, which was done after many leaders expressed their interest to see the development of Malaysia's administrative capital in the last dialogue in Uganda.

Hence, for the first time the LID will be held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), which has the capacity to house 10,000 delegates.

Among the key highlights of this year's dialogue is that for the first time again, a business forum is being hosted, which will provide a good platfrom for businesses to explore the many possibilities in Africa and Malaysia.

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, a year, which was higher than the global GDP rate of 4.2 per cent.

This will also be the first LID to be hosted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The business Forum themed 'Exploring New Dimensions' will focus on the importance of enhancing economic and business relations between Malaysia and Africa, given the changing socio-economic landscape.

Former Prime Minister and LID Founder Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be delivering a keynote address. The forum will conclude with a networking lunch for all delegates.

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 Muhyiddin, heads of states and governments and eminent personalities will be the panellists.

The "Dialogue in the Field" is another new segment of LID 2011, whereby participants will go on field visits and attend workshops at various venues 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.

Also, for the first time, a retreat session will be held for the heads of state and government to exchange views with regard to 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 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 the Caribbean.

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