President Opens IAF and HLF MSP 2024, Indonesia Strengthens Sustainable Partnerships to Face Global Challenges
By: Rendra Pradipta)*
The 2nd Indonesia Africa Forum (IAF) and the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF MSP) in Bali add to Indonesia’s long list of successes in holding international events. IAF and HLF MSP 2024 are two important forums that mark a step forward in global efforts to build sustainable partnerships and innovative solutions.
President Joko Widodo officially opened the 2nd Indonesia Africa Forum (IAF) and the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF MSP) in Bali. In his speech, the President invited the entire world community to increase solidarity and equality in facing various global challenges. At the beginning of his speech, President Jokowi described the global conditions that are full of challenges, such as economic slowdown, increasing unemployment, inflation, and ongoing geopolitical tensions. However, he highlighted that amid these challenges, international solidarity actually seems to be weakening.
The President emphasized the importance of having a new direction and vision to achieve more equitable and inclusive development, especially for developing countries. He emphasized that only through international cooperation and solidarity can these challenges be overcome. Furthermore, President Jokowi emphasized Indonesia’s commitment to being part of the global solution, especially in fighting for the principles of equality, justice, and solidarity.
On that valuable occasion, President Jokowi also expressed his concern about the impact of the global situation on developing countries. He stated that developing countries are the ones that feel the most impact from the current global challenges, which in the end, developing countries are the ones that are most affected. Millions of people in developing countries are facing very severe difficulties, while we only have six years left until 2030, and only 17% of the SDGs targets have been achieved.
The 2nd IAF and HLF-MSP 2024 are important moments for Indonesia to further strengthen its role on the global stage. Through this forum, Indonesia seeks to encourage more inclusive cooperation and strengthen international solidarity, while strengthening the positive diplomatic legacy that has been built so far.
Both provide a platform to strengthen international relations, encourage investment and trade, and address global challenges in a more coordinated manner. With close collaboration between various stakeholders, it is hoped that the outcomes of these two forums will bring broad and sustainable positive impacts to the world.
In the 2024 IAF, Indonesia has raised four priority issues that focus on the economic sector with business deals worth up to 3.5 billion US dollars (around Rp54.69 trillion). Previously, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Pahala N Mansury, said that business deals between private companies and state-owned enterprises in Indonesia and Africa were achieved through four priority issues.
The first is the food security sector. Indonesia has the opportunity to work with Africa as a non-traditional market. Africa has potential such as vast land and good climate, as well as the potential for trade and supply chains in the food sector, namely fertilizers and biofuel development.
The second priority issue for enhanced cooperation is energy security. Africa holds 10 percent of the world’s oil reserves. In addition to fossil energy, renewable energy also has great opportunities for cooperation. It is hoped that there will be several new renewable energy developments such as solar or geothermal energy, which are still being explored and hopefully can be finalized.
In the health sector, Indonesia and Africa are said to have high needs for medicines, vaccines, and medical devices. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs explained that there have been several collaborations in the health sector, such as polio vaccine products to Africa, which also involve Biofarma and Kimia Farma.
The critical mineral resilience sector is the fourth priority of cooperation between the two countries. Indonesia and Africa have reserves of critical minerals for the energy transition, including nickel, cobalt, graphite, and manganese. According to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the potential that can be developed includes the supply chain for the production of components and batteries for electric vehicles.
The 2nd IAF has resulted in cooperation in various sectors between Indonesia and African countries, business agreements between private and state-owned enterprises, and a draft of Development Cooperation with Africa 2024-2029. With the theme “Bandung Spirit for Africa’s Agenda 2063”, six heads of state or government from the African continent attended the event.
Meanwhile, the success of the HLF MSP 2024 is a momentum for Indonesia to once again demonstrate global leadership in strengthening solidarity and cross-sectoral collaboration. The forum, which was successfully held on 1-3 September 2024 in Bali, not only continued Indonesia’s success in leading the world forum, but also became a manifestation of Indonesia’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive development.
Director of Foreign Policy and International Development Cooperation of the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas), Hendra Wahanu Prabandani, said that the 2024 HLF MSP is real evidence of how Indonesia is able to build multi-party partnerships, starting from the government, civil society organizations, the private sector, to academics.
This forum has succeeded in becoming a catalyst for innovative solutions in facing global challenges, as well as strengthening Indonesia’s role as a leader in efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.
Carrying the theme “Strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: Towards a Transformative Change,” HLF MSP 2024 successfully brought together thousands of participants from various countries and international organizations to jointly discuss pressing global issues, including efforts to narrow the development gap between countries in the South and the North.
Indonesia is also strongly committed to promoting global solidarity while accelerating the achievement of the Golden Indonesia Vision 2045 through innovative and transformative multi-stakeholder partnerships. The three focus of discussion at the 2024 HLF MSP meeting are first, Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships for Strengthening South-South and Triangular Cooperation, namely cross-country partnerships that strengthen South-South and Triangular cooperation to create joint solutions in facing global challenges.
Second, Enhancing Welfare and Sustainability through Sustainable Economy, namely formulating a collaborative strategy to improve welfare and sustainability through a sustainable economy by emphasizing the importance of environmental integration in economic development.
Third, Advancing Development through Innovative Financing, namely encouraging development through innovative financing, which is the key to achieving sustainable development goals effectively.
One of the outcomes of the HLF MSP 2024 is the formation of new partnerships that can leverage the expertise and resources of various stakeholders. The forum serves as a place for collaborative ideas to develop and be implemented. Going forward, the outcomes of this forum are expected to create significant impacts in the form of closer global collaboration and more effective solutions to pressing issues.
Indonesia’s success in holding the two international forums deserves appreciation from various parties. This will again strengthen Indonesia’s role and leadership in efforts to narrow the development gap between countries and strengthen sustainable global solidarity.
)* The author is an observer of economic issues
