Indonesia became the center of world attention by holding two very important international forums: the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF-MSP) and the Indonesia-Africa Forum II (IAF II). These two events not only succeeded in achieving a number of important agreements, but also paved the way for strengthening closer and more sustainable global cooperation.
HLF-MSP and IAF 2024 are not just ordinary international meetings, but are a strategic step for Indonesia in realizing sustainable development and strengthening its position on the global stage.
IAF II, themed “Bandung Spirit for Africa’s Agenda 2063”, became a solid foundation for the development of partnerships between Indonesia and African countries. This forum revived the spirit of the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung, which became the starting point for solidarity of developing countries.
Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister Pahala Nugraha Mansury emphasized Africa’s strategic role in the global economy, especially for Indonesia. According to him, Africa has extraordinary natural resource potential, including 10% of the world’s oil reserves and 8% of gas, as well as critical minerals such as cobalt, manganese, and graphite.
This statement emphasizes the importance of economic cooperation between Indonesia and Africa in utilizing natural resource potential optimally and sustainably. This forum has produced several important cooperation achievements covering various vital sectors.
Meanwhile, HLF-MSP 2024 successfully brought together various stakeholders from government, private sector, international organizations, and civil society. This forum aims to achieve collaborative efforts in addressing global challenges through multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Bogat Widyatmoko, Deputy for Politics, Law, Defense, and Security of the Ministry of PPN/Bappenas, explained that this forum not only produced important agreements to overcome the global polycrisis problem, but also demonstrated its leadership in fostering international solidarity in line with the commitment of the Vision of Golden Indonesia 2045.
The HLF-MSP discussed a range of critical issues, including climate change, socio-economic inequality, and digital transformation. Participants agreed to strengthen global economic cooperation.
Hendra Wahanu Prabandani, as Director of Foreign Policy and International Development Cooperation of the Ministry of PPN/Bappenas, stated that the 2024 HLF MSP continues the efforts that have been built by the Indonesian government, including the results of the previous G20 Presidency. At the G20 Summit, the Roadmap for Stronger Recovery and Resilience in Developing Countries was produced .
This forum demonstrates Indonesia’s ability to establish multi-stakeholder partnerships, involving various elements ranging from government, civil society organizations, the private sector, to academics. The goal is to encourage innovative solutions in facing global challenges and strengthen Indonesia’s position in efforts to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
With the theme “ Strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: Towards a Transformative Change ,” Indonesia emphasized the importance of collaboration between stakeholders to strengthen collective action, ensure inclusive cooperation, and find innovative solutions to address increasingly complex global problems.
Participants are optimistic that the concrete outcomes of this meeting will have a positive impact on joint efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The two forums have opened a new chapter in international cooperation, especially between Indonesia and Africa, and strengthened the shared commitment to address global challenges through inclusive and sustainable partnerships.
For Indonesia, these forums confirm its position as a bridge between developing countries and provide real contributions to strengthening global development cooperation. This is in line with Indonesia’s vision to become a developed country that plays an active role in the international arena.
Meanwhile, for Africa, partnership with Indonesia opens up new opportunities in economic diversification, technology transfer, and human resource capacity building. This is expected to support the long-term development vision of the African continent.
The success of the HLF-MSP and IAF II in Bali demonstrates that close and inclusive international cooperation is key to addressing increasingly complex global challenges. By bringing together stakeholders and building bridges across continents, these forums have laid a strong foundation for closer and more sustainable partnerships in the future.
The next challenge is to ensure effective implementation of the agreements that have been reached. A strong commitment from all parties is needed to translate the results of this forum into real actions that have a positive impact on society, both in Indonesia, Africa, and around the world.
With the spirit of Bandung alive and a shared vision for sustainable development, HLF-MSP and the Indonesia-Africa Forum II have paved the way for a new era of global cooperation that is more inclusive, equitable and beneficial to all.
These forums have produced real breakthroughs that can drive the achievement of SDGs, not only for Indonesia, but also for other countries, especially in the Global South region. Furthermore, these meetings have created fresh economic collaborations and strengthened Indonesia’s competitive position in the region, amidst the global competitive climate. []
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Writer : Reenee WA (International Relations and Public Policy Observer / Former Journalist)
Editor: Agush A. Apituley