By : Andre Lesmana )*
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an association of nations in Southeast Asia, which was formed on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with five founding countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Therefore, every August 8, we commemorate ASEAN Day or ASEAN Day.
Along with the positive impact felt from this association, until 2022, ASEAN members will increase by six other countries to a total of eleven member countries. The six countries in question are Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Timor Leste. Indonesia itself has played the role of Chair of ASEAN four times (1976, 1996, 2003, 2011) and has produced proven achievements that can encourage the progress of ASEAN countries.
In 2023, it will be the fifth time that Indonesia has been lined up to hold ASEAN Chair, with the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth” which means that Indonesia wants to make ASEAN remain important and relevant to the ASEAN community and the world. This is because, Indonesia wants to make ASEAN a region that has an important role, for regional countries and the world. Both play a central role as the engine of peace and prosperity in the region. In addition, Indonesia also wants to make ASEAN a center for regional and world economic growth.
The holding of the 2023 ASEAN Summit in Indonesia has been successfully implemented even in the midst of a multidimensional crisis and an uneven world economic recovery due to the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical conditions that have caused vulnerability, especially in the energy, food and financial sectors.
President Jokowi said he appreciated the hard work of members of the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision (HLTF-ACV) in the past year. The President called for ASEAN to be fully prepared to face increasingly complex challenges.
President Jokowi also underlined the very crucial role of HLTF in identifying challenges and opportunities far into the future. In addition, HLTF must also ensure ASEAN’s contribution to the progress of the region and the world.
During his 2023 ASEAN Chair, Indonesia led ASEAN countries to contribute and provide positive solutions for the world amidst a challenging global situation, especially in the economic sector. Indonesia became Chair of ASEAN in the midst of a very difficult global situation. Economic crises, energy crises, food crises, wars, everything is happening.
The successful implementation of the 2023 ASEAN Summit in Indonesia is the result of the hard work of the administrators in the Ministries/Agencies and all parties involved. Coordinating Minister Airlangga said that Indonesia should be proud of the extraordinary performance of all elements involved in it.
The Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Airlangga Hartarto said that the implementation of the ASEAN Summit which has gone smoothly is extraordinary because Labuan Bajo can be remembered as the location for the 42nd ASEAN Summit. Coordinating Minister Airlangga also appreciated all parties involved so that everything could go well.
The 2023 ASEAN Summit is very useful for recovering global economic conditions and accelerating progress towards sustainable development. With extraordinary efforts to involve all of these parties, from the start of preparation to completion, the 2023 ASEAN Summit in Indonesia was able to achieve optimal results.
Various investment commitments need to be immediately followed up and monitored. Indonesia needs to ensure the implementation of these various commitments. And of course as the Troika, Indonesia will maintain the sustainability of the results of discussions on various strategic issues that were successfully agreed upon.
The Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), Erick Thohir views that the 2023 ASEAN Summit will have a positive impact on Indonesia. This impact includes the national economic sector in various sectors. Through the 2023 ASEAN Summit, the micro, small and medium business sector will benefit, all parties encourage MSMEs to go global, one of which is with exhibitions involving visitors from abroad. MSMEs are the backbone of the Indonesian economy which open up many job opportunities. They can make the nation’s name proud with world-class products.
The Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi appreciated the services of transportation facilities and infrastructure in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) in launching the 42nd ASEAN Summit. Transportation facilities and infrastructure services prepared starting from the preparation stage, arrival to return of state guests and delegates to the 42nd ASEAN Summit
With good transportation services, it can also leave a good impression in the eyes of state leaders and members of the ASEAN Summit delegation present in Labuan Bajo.
This also supports President Joko Widodo’s idea to introduce Labuan Bajo to the world community. What has been done, from preparation to systematic implementation, has been carried out well.
In addition, from a security standpoint, Polri has implemented a special security strategy during the ASEAN Summit. The Chief of the Republic of Indonesia National Police (Kapolri), General Listyo Sigit Prabowo expressed his gratitude to all ranks of the TNI-Polri who have synergized optimally in order to secure the entire series of ASEAN Summit activities in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
Indonesia has proven to be able to lead ASEAN countries in responding to global challenges, producing breakthroughs in cooperation for the world community. The success of the 2023 ASEAN Summit shows that Indonesia is able to navigate foreign diplomacy that is not only beneficial for global interests but also beneficial for domestic interests.
Indonesia is determined to direct ASEAN cooperation in 2023 to continue and strengthen ASEAN’s relevance in responding to regional and global challenges, as well as strengthening ASEAN’s position as the center of regional economic growth, for the prosperity of the people in Southeast Asia.
As one of the founding countries and the largest country in ASEAN, many parties hope that Indonesia will be able to facilitate various breakthroughs and innovations as a solution to overcoming world challenges and problems that are also faced by the region. The trust and support of various parties towards Indonesia’s chairmanship is the fruit of Indonesia’s diplomatic strategy and strong leadership in ASEAN from its inception in 1967 until now.
)* The author is a national economic observer
