Jakarta ( WNAM MONITORING): Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established the Directorate General of Economic Relations and Development Cooperation to better coordinate its economic diplomacy and synergize its foreign policy.
“Economic diplomacy under President Prabowo’s (Prabowo Subianto) leadership, will strive for a more equitable global economic architecture, where the voices and interests of developing countries are represented,” Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono said in his annual press statement here on Friday.
He explained that currently, Indonesia’s macroeconomy is stable and well-maintained. Positive projections from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank also reflect Indonesia’s economic resilience amid ongoing global uncertainty.
“Domestic economic stability will be a solid foundation for development and would serve as Indonesia’s strong capital to actively contribute toward global peace and prosperity,” Sugiono said.
He further emphasized that President Prabowo’s vision to achieve economic growth of up to eight percent and prepare Indonesia to become a developed country is not merely an ambition, but a common commitment.
Therefore, the focus of Indonesia’s economic diplomacy is on realizing the Asta Cita goals, which include sovereignty, resilience, and national food and energy self-sufficiency; accelerating the green energy transition; and the development of the blue economy.
They further include strengthening the digital and creative economy and supporting the downstreaming of various commodities.
Indonesia’s diplomacy will be proactive and flexible in encouraging national economic transformation based on justice, self-sufficiency, and mutually beneficial partnerships while promoting resilience, innovation and inclusion, according to the minister.
It will also push for fair trade and market expansion for Indonesian products abroad, including non-traditional market partners, as well as seek to attract investments that support the government’s national priorities and programs.
“In non-traditional markets such as Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, we will continue to strengthen strategic partnerships, as well as find new investment destinations for Indonesia,” he informed.
Indonesia is also committed to completing ongoing international trade agreements to ease trade tensions and provide protection for all business actors, including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“Sustainable economic development and growth are also the main pillars of Indonesia’s diplomacy,” Sugiono pointed out.
“In undertaking economic diplomacy, we will also not remain idle in responding to unfair economic practices and policies, including those that target Indonesia’s leading commodities and production,” he added.
In addition to strengthening its economic diplomacy, the ministry’s new directorate general will be tasked with providing development assistance, as a form of soft power diplomacy to elevate Indonesia’s position and influence.
The assistance will be carried out through numerous activities, such as providing scholarships and capacity-building programs for officials of neighboring countries as well as expanding development assistance to countries in the Global South, including Africa, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.
