The 2023 ASEAN Summit Encourages Various Positive Implications for Indonesia and the Region

Indonesia as Chair of ASEAN 2023 has a positive and optimistic perspective. This is to make the ASEAN organization a barometer of cooperation that can contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world. 

The Southeast Asian region, which currently consists of 11 countries that are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has shown significant progress in terms of social, economic, political and cultural aspects. ASEAN is now increasingly influential, both at the regional and global levels. ASEAN is the 3rd largest market in Asia and the 5th largest in the world and is one of the most advanced integrated markets.

With a population of 660 million people, ASEAN has a broad consumer base, the 3rd largest after China and India globally. More than 50% of ASEAN’s population is under 30 years old, and they make up the largest share of the current and future workforce. This condition has become one of the driving factors for increasing ASEAN Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 140 times since it was founded in 1967.

Overall, ASEAN economic growth with a combined population of 685 million people has reached USD 3.2 trillion in 2022. Since 2021, ASEAN economic growth has also shown positive figures. This proves ASEAN’s high economic and trade potential.

This can be utilized to build regional growth, connectivity and new advantages through various sectors, to anticipate crises and optimize trade and investment. In this way, efforts to accelerate the digital economy in increasing digital economic growth in the region will become increasingly real, which will have an impact on reducing the digital gap that exists in the region. 

The world’s challenges in 2023 will be even tougher. Global uncertainty and a very dynamic geopolitical situation will still be a characteristic of the world. In the midst of these conditions, Indonesia must have a positive attitude and perspective, cooperation, collaboration and optimism. So with this perspective, Indonesia set the chairmanship theme ” ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth “. Namely realizing an ASEAN that is  resilient , adaptive and inclusive, also plays a central role in the region, and has an impact on society in the region and even the world.

Indonesia carries the theme ” ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth ” with three main issues, namely  Recovery and Rebuilding, Digital Economy  and  Sustainable . President Joko Widodo emphasized that through this theme, Indonesia wants to make ASEAN remain important and relevant for the ASEAN community and the world. 

President Jokowi emphasized that in the future Indonesia’s chairmanship will make  ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth , where ASEAN must become stronger and become the epicenter of world growth, remain a peaceful region, uphold human values ​​and democracy. Apart from that, he encouraged ASEAN to strengthen cooperation so that the economy can progress further. Indonesia wants ASEAN to continue to play a central role and be a driver of regional stability and peace. The second element is  the Epicentrum of Growth , Indonesia wants to further capitalize on ASEAN’s economic growth which is always higher than world growth.

Apart from that, the ASEAN Summit also encourages the development of green infrastructure, accelerates the implementation of sustainable development goals ( SDGs ), increases energy security to support sustainable economic growth so as to make ASEAN the center of world economic growth.

Apart from that, holding the 2023 ASEAN Summit in Jakarta will certainly be the best momentum to continue to encourage and promote the region to become a super priority tourist destination. The 2023 ASEAN Summit in Indonesia increased the visits of 1.1 million foreign tourists to Indonesia’s super priority tourist destination areas. The ASEAN Summit held in Indonesia also provides an opportunity for Indonesia to recover the economy, especially the domestic economy, which had declined during Covid-19. Through the 2023 ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, it can provide a boost to the domestic economy so that it can provide support for economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic.