President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has set out Indonesia’s vision for supporting global development in the face of a global economic downturn, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and solidarity.
Speaking at the Indonesia Africa Forum 2024, Jokowi stressed the need for renewed commitment to achieving sustainable development goals and outlined four key priorities that Indonesia will focus on to help drive equitable progress worldwide.
Jokowi also highlighted a concerning decline in international solidarity and a growing disregard for multilateralism.
He argued that these trends are hitting developing countries the hardest, making it essential to rethink strategies for global development.
With only six years remaining to meet the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Jokowi emphasized the urgency of the situation.
“Despite our efforts, only 17 peercent of the SDG targets have been achieved,” Jokowi told the opening of the Indonesia Africa Forum (IAF) 2024 held in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Monday, September 2, 2024.
“We must adopt new strategies and tactical measures to achieve a more just and inclusive development for developing nations,” the president added.
The four priorities highlighted by Jokowi aim to address these global challenges. First is the need to align global development efforts with the national and regional priorities of individual countries, including increased attention to Africa’s socio-economic transformation agenda for 2063.
The second priority involves Indonesia’s commitment to being a proactive part of the global solution. Indonesia aims to represent the interests of the global south and act as a mediator in advocating for equality, justice, and solidarity to accelerate the realization of the SDGs.
Jokowi reminded the forum that this has been a consistent part of Indonesia’s foreign policy since the Asia-Africa Conference 69 years ago.
Jokowi also expressed Indonesia’s readiness to build partnerships with various countries, particularly in Africa, to support the global development agenda.
He noted that Indonesia’s collaborations with African nations have led to a significant increase in trade and several substantial trade agreements.
“This year’s Indonesia-Africa Forum saw business agreements worth US$3.5 billion (Rp54.5 trillion), nearly six times the amount achieved during the first IAF in 2018,” he said.
Lastly, Jokowi called for a revival of global solidarity to foster cooperation between the northern and southern hemispheres.
He stressed that such collaboration is crucial for addressing global challenges and ensuring mutual support among nations.
With these priorities, Jokowi aims to position Indonesia as a key player in promoting sustainable development and addressing the pressing issues facing the global community today.
