East Java – Senior Researcher at the Center for Economic Policy Research (PPKE) Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) Universitas Brawijaya, Joko Budi Santoso said, Indonesia has the opportunity to increase a number of potential collaborations with partner countries, at the ASEAN Summit (Summit) in Jakarta, September 5-7, 2023.
According to him, with Indonesia’s current positive performance, its sustainability must be ensured by expanding the domestic product market.
“In this context, Indonesia has the right momentum by holding the Chair of ASEAN,” said Joko Budi in Malang City, East Java.
Joko Budi Santoso added, Indonesia is currently one of the prima donnas in the world economic arena. With a large population and abundant natural resources (SDA), it is Indonesia’s capital to take part in holding the key to the world economy in the future.
“This is an indication of Indonesia’s good economic growth during the pandemic and post-pandemic. “Meanwhile other countries, especially developed countries such as Japan, South Korea, the United States and Europe, are still in decline,” he said.
In addition, he added, steps to expand the market for domestic products can also be accompanied by Indonesia’s presence as a source of raw materials for domestic industries through increased bilateral and inter-regional cooperation.
Joko Budi Santoso assessed that in addition to increasing trade cooperation, the tourism sector can be a priority to continue to promote and cooperate with, because this sector will become a locomotive to pull the carriages of other economic sectors to go faster.
“Such as for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), creative economy and accommodation services,” he said.
Furthermore, he explained other matters of concern at the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, also related to national strategic projects in infrastructure development and management of natural resources. These two things could become a big agenda to include in increasing strategic cooperation with partner countries.
“What is no less important is increasing cooperation in terms of technology transfer to anticipate climate change for a guaranteed environmental sustainability,” he said.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will preside over 12 meetings during the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta. Apart from chairing the 43rd ASEAN Summit, both in plenary and retreat formats, the President will also chair all meetings with ASEAN partner countries.
These meetings are the 26th ASEAN-China Summit, the 24th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit, the 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit, and the 11th ASEAN-United States Summit.
Then, President Jokowi will also chair the ASEAN-Canada Summit, the 26th ASEAN Plus Three Summit, the 20th ASEAN-India Summit, the 3rd ASEAN-Australia Summit, the 13th ASEAN-United Nations (UN) Summit, and the 18th East Asia Summit (EAS).
The East Asia Summit comprises 18 participating countries, including 10 ASEAN member countries, and Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States.