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Indonesia Wants to Make  ASEAN  Remain Important for the World

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By : Asmita Chandra )*

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has officially opened the 42nd ASEAN Summit 2023 in Labuan Bajo, Tuesday (9/5). President Jokowi said that Indonesia’s chairmanship for ASEAN in 2023 has quite complex international challenges and problems, both from a geopolitical and economic perspective. 

President Jokowi highlighted ASEAN leaders who are currently facing a global economy that has not yet recovered, rivalries are getting sharper, and world dynamics are unpredictable. President Jokowi believes ASEAN can be the engine of peace and growth, as long as it can unite. With unity, ASEAN is able to become a central player in bringing peace and growth.

ASEAN countries have strong assets to become engines of economic growth far above the world average, which have the provision of demographic bonuses and regional stability. So that in the future ASEAN will strengthen economic integration, health architecture, food, energy and financial stability.

The challenges that come from the economic situation are still in a state of recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic, causing 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.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Retno Marsudi, in Labuan Bajo has revealed a number of agreements, from investment agreements to economic agreements and sustainable environmentally friendly energy transfers.

Indonesia entered into an agreement with Vietnam to strive to meet a trade target of USD 15 billion for 2028. Both parties are optimistic that this target can be met on condition that all trade restrictions or trade barriers can be reduced if not completely eliminated. In addition,  bilateral  investment treaty negotiations  are being carried out because now both parties’ investment has increased. 

Do not forget, cooperation in the field of new and renewable energy, as well as finalizing implementation arrangements and the ratification process for the completion of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) negotiations between the two countries.

A Joint Working Group  will also be formed with Timor Leste to prepare for the development of an economic area on the border. Meanwhile, with Laos, Indonesia has established economic cooperation, Indonesian BUMN cooperation with Laos, including the cooperation between PLN and Électricité du Laos, then procurement of aircraft from PT. DI for the Lao air force, as well as the procurement of trains from PT. INKA for Petrotrade Laos Public Company. The two countries, according to Foreign Minister Retno, are also increasing cooperation in eradicating  trafficking-in-person  which is currently rife in ASEAN member countries.

Meanwhile with Malaysia, Foreign Minister Retno conveyed the settlement of several areas for sea borders and land borders, affirming  the one channel system,  and protecting Indonesian migrant workers who work in Malaysia.  

The existence of Indonesia’s chairmanship simultaneously provides an opportunity and demonstrates Indonesia’s strategic role in strengthening ASEAN institutional capacities and capabilities, especially in forming a regional order that is based on multilateralism and inclusivity values. 

The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD also revealed that Indonesia along with a number of other ASEAN countries are committed to realizing the security and peace of the ASEAN people through a  blueprint regarding the pillars of politics and security in ASEAN. Among them, the Declaration on the Eradication of Human Trafficking Due to the Misuse of Technology as a commitment to eradicate human trafficking in the ASEAN region is carried out using a comprehensive approach, starting from prevention efforts to protecting victims.

With this firm declaration, joint collaboration in preventing technology abuse will increase. This enthusiasm to eradicate human trafficking really needs to be continuously supported, one of which is through efforts to accelerate negotiations on the ASEAN Extradition Agreement. With this agreement, it will be able to prevent the ASEAN region from criminals and also further strengthen ASEAN’s status as a law-based society.

Indonesia is optimistic that ASEAN will remain relevant and become an important center of economic growth in the region, continue and strengthen ASEAN’s relevance in responding to regional and global challenges, and strengthen 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. 

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.

In the Asian region, Indonesia is the country with the largest economy and the only country in ASEAN that is included in the G20. For this reason, let’s support Indonesia’s leadership for ASEAN by upholding the value of solidarity with a spirit of optimism and cooperation, by building   multi-  stakeholder collaborative governance  to realize the aspirations of an ASEAN that is resilient against various crisis upheavals and an ASEAN that is able to bring benefits to the people of Southeast Asia. and international.

)* The author is a National and Global Economic Observer

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