After successfully holding the 42nd ASEAN Summit (KTT) in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) in May 2023, Indonesia will again hold the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta on 5-7 September 2023. Still carrying the theme “ASEAN Matter: Epicentrum of Growth”, Indonesia is committed to increasing economic growth in the ASEAN region which is almost always above the world growth average.
At this event, President Jokowi presided over 12 meetings when the 43rd ASEAN Summit took place at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Jakarta. The Head of State also chaired a number of non-conference events, such as the opening of the 43rd ASEAN Summit, the opening of the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum, gala dinners, social events, as well as the closing ceremony and the handover of the ASEAN chairmanship to Laos. The series of summits also became the venue for various bilateral meetings among the leaders present.
In its fourth chairmanship, Indonesia is focused on laying the foundation for strategic cooperation between ASEAN countries in the future. And to achieve this, Indonesia oversees and ensures strong and sturdy ASEAN institutions with various working mechanisms, including how to strengthen ASEAN resources.
For information, Indonesia has held the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) four times, namely in 1976, 1996, 2003, and most recently in 2011. In each period of chairmanship, Indonesia had to face various international political challenges and problems that were not easy. Indonesia’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2023 has quite complex international challenges and problems, both from a geopolitical and economic perspective.
Indonesia plays a role in determining the region’s future agenda, including trade, investment, digitalization, the blue economy as a new source of growth, and of course the role of the Indo-Pacific outlook . How do we manifest all this in the context of economy and development.
Previously, a number of results had been achieved in the implementation of the 42nd ASEAN Summit which took place on 10-11 May 2023, in Labuan Bajo, NTT Province. One of them is that the interests of the people will be the main concern of ASEAN leaders, including the protection of migrant workers and victims of human trafficking. The Head of State also invited ASEAN countries to take firm action against the main perpetrators of the Crime of Human Trafficking (TPPO).
Meanwhile with regard to Myanmar, ASEAN countries agreed not to tolerate harm to human values. Not only that, ASEAN also agreed to engage with all stakeholders in accordance with the “Five Points of Agreement” mandate.
Indonesia does indeed open up opportunities for communication with anyone in the context of humanitarian interests. However, taking a communication approach does not mean giving recognition because ASEAN unity is the main thing so that it is not easily divided by other parties.
Finally, strengthening economic cooperation. ASEAN countries agreed to build an electric car ecosystem and become an important part of the world supply chain, making industrial downstreaming a key. In addition, ASEAN countries also agreed to strengthen the implementation of local currency transactions and digital payment connectivity between countries.
As Chair, Indonesia is eager to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of ASEAN institutions to be able to respond to the challenges of the next 20 years. Indonesia is determined to lead the way towards ASEAN 2045, which needs to always be more adaptive, responsive and competitive. All of this must be fought for in the “ASEAN way” which is in line with the spirit of cooperation and implementation of the principles of the ASEAN Charter.
Through its chairmanship of this international event, Indonesia is also predicted to be a motor of economic growth in ASEAN and even globally. This could possibly be realized in 2024. The Expert Team of the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Iskandar Simorangkir, said that Indonesia is a trade market in ASEAN. This is what drives Indonesia not only to become the economic engine of Southeast Asia, but of ASEAN. Indonesia can become a major industrial country and become a developed country, not only in ASEAN but also in the world on the 100th anniversary of independence in 2045.
The government believes that the initiatives prepared by Indonesia will support a more integrated ASEAN after 2025, be resilient to future crisis challenges, and make ASEAN have an important role on the global stage, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.