By : David Kiva Prambudi )*
After successfully holding the G20 Indonesia Presidency, in 2023 Indonesia is again entrusted with becoming the ASEAN 2023 Chairmanship. With economic growth in the ASEAN region which is almost always above the world’s average growth, Indonesia carries the theme “ASEAN Matter: Epicentrum of Growth”.
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 of these chairmanship periods, Indonesia had to face various regional and international political challenges and problems. which is not easy. Indonesia’s chairmanship for ASEAN in 2023 has quite complex international challenges and problems, both from a geopolitical and economic perspective.
Challenges come from big country competition, such as between the United States and China and the United States and Russia. Challenges also came from the economic situation which was still in a state of recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic which then gave rise to various economic, food, energy, and even war crises. Apart from that, the Myanmar issue is again testing ASEAN’s capacity and effectiveness in overcoming internal problems.
Various challenges have the potential to threaten regional stability, weaken centrality, and threaten ASEAN’s relevance as an actor playing a role in shaping the order in the Southeast Asia and Indo-Pacific regions. For this reason, Indonesia’s chairmanship in 2023 with the theme ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth is becoming increasingly relevant in becoming the anchor of regional stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, by becoming a facilitator making ASEAN relevant and important, not only for the Indonesian people, but also for the people of ASEAN and people outside ASEAN.
Indonesia raised three main clusters of priority agenda, namely recovery-rebuilding, digital transformation , and sustainability . This at the same time resonates with the agenda of Indonesia’s G20 Presidency in 2022 and is expected to be able to make the ASEAN region a center of stable, peaceful growth and become the anchor of world economic stability.
Meanwhile, Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI) Dody Budi Waluyo assessed that the role of Indonesia’s chairmanship in ASEAN 2023 is part of the steps towards creating a connected, inclusive and prosperous ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2025 in 2025. Indonesia’s leadership at the global level in the Presidency The G20 Financial Channel continues through Indonesia’s Chairmanship in ASEAN 2023 in the economic pathway, especially the financial pillar.
At the 2023 ASEAN Summit, Jokowi revealed several results of the agreement that had been agreed upon by all ASEAN member countries, namely first, the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the Recent Attack on a Convoy of the AHA Center and ASEAN Monitoring Team in Myanmar, which condemned the violence committed by the Myanmar Military Junta including the attack on the AHA-Centre in Shan state on 7 May 2023.
Second, the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the Development of the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision, namely an agreement on ongoing efforts to formulate the ASEAN Post-2025 Vision which will become a regional guide and maintain ASEAN’s relevance in facing regional and global challenges. Furthermore, the third is the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on Strengthening ASEAN’s Capacity and Institutional Effectiveness, Fourth, the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Combating Trafficking in Persons Caused by The Abuse of Technology, which is related to the development of information and communication technology after the Covid-19 pandemic which has facilitated criminal activity transnational so that coordination efforts from ASEAN are needed to eradicate trafficking syndicates in persons.
The fifth is the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Developing Regional Electric Vehicle Ecosystem, concerning the development of electric vehicles as part of ASEAN’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, accelerate the energy transition, decarbonize the land transportation sector in the region, so as to achieve the net-zero emission target. Sixth, the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Advancing Regional Payment Connectivity and Promoting Local Currency Transactions, and the seventh ASEAN Declaration on The Placement and Protection of Migrant Fishers, namely the protection of migrant fishermen through policies, mechanisms and migration processes, including with ASEAN external partners and entities relevant international.
Furthermore, there is also the ASEAN Declaration on The Protection of Migrant Workers and Family Members in Crisis Situations, policy adjustments to provide assistance to migrant workers in crisis situations, including during the rapid response and recovery stages. And, the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on One Health Initiative, discussed the formation of ASEAN One Health supported by the ASEAN Secretariat to develop and strengthen multi-sectoral cooperation and coordination to form a national mechanism for the One Health Initiative in each ASEAN member country.
Meanwhile, regarding the ASEAN Leaders Joint Statement on the Establishment of an ASEAN Villages Network, it was agreed to establish the ASEAN Villages Network with the aim of facilitating cooperation between villages and empowering villages to accelerate rural transformation.
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 guide 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 the implementation of the principles of the ASEAN Charter.
The government believes that the initiatives compiled by Indonesia will support a more integrated ASEAN after 2025, resilient against future crisis challenges, and make ASEAN have an important role in the global arena, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.
)* The author is a contributor to Yudistira Institute
