10th D-8 Summit: President Jokowi Calls for Efforts to End Global Pandemic
President Jokowi attends the 10th D-8 Summit online from the State Palace in Jakarta (08/04/2021)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has expressed hopes that the 10th Developing Eight (D-8) Summit can be a vital part to end the global pandemic so the world can return to normal.
The President attended the summit online from the State Palace in Jakarta.
Speaking to reporters after the summit, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said that the current pandemic situation, as well as efforts to collaborate in handling the pandemic and encouraging the economic recovery acceleration became top issues discussed by the leaders of D-8 member countries, including President Jokowi.
President Jokowi, Retno added, also unveiled three main points that in which D-8 member countries can do in handling the pandemic.
First, President Jokowi called for efforts to boost even distribution of vaccines because the availability and affordability of vaccines are the key to get the world through this current crisis.
The President also called for support for multilateral vaccines because COVID-19 is a global pandemic and the world must be united to produce and distribute vaccine for all people. The world, the President added, must also increase capacity of vaccine production to provide fair public access to the vaccine.
For the record, some of D-8 member countries are developing their own vaccine production, including Indonesia with its Merah Putih vaccine. Therefore, President Jokowi, according to Retno, underlined that D-8 must collaborate in developing and producing vaccines in the future.
Second, President Jokowi called for efforts to collaborate in rebuilding the global economy. Global crisis amid the pandemic must serves a milestone for D-8 member countries to make a big leap. In order to facilitate interstate trade in the area of D-8 member countries, the trade barrier must be minimized.
1,1 billion people of total population, an estimated economic potential of about USD 4 billion and estimated potential interstate trade of about USD 1,5 billion become the great potential and strength of D-8 member countries to significantly contribute for global economic recovery.
Third, President Jokowi also called for efforts to develop digital technology. Demography bonus of youth population in D-8 member countries reaches around 323 million people – higher than in G-7 member countries that has 135 million people of youth population. Therefore, youth population is also key to be successful in digital technology development in the future.
Furthermore, digitalization, artificial intelligence, computing power, big data and data analytics positively impact to the brand-new innovations. These sectors are the future economy and D-8 member countries must utilize them for the welfare of the people.
Startup industry must also be given supports and one of the strengths of D-8 member countries, Muslim-majority countries, should be optimally utilized to develop Sharia-based startup industries. (UN) (AP/EP)
