Indonesia Supports Closer Tie Between G-20 Countries and Africa

President Jokowi attends the G-20 Leaders’ Retreat in di Hamburg Messe, Hamburg, Germany, Saturday (8/7) local time. (Photo by: Public Relations Division/Edi)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo said building Africa should be done without destroying the continent. The President also believes that only with this way, Africa’s economic growth would be sustainable.

“Therefore, Indonesia lends her support for the G20-Africa Partnership and the goal of Agenda 2063 in Africa through Compact with Africa,” the President said in his remarks during the G-20 Summit Leaders’ Retreat in Messe, Hamburg, Germany, on Saturday (8/7) local time.

President Jokowi also asserted that Indonesia and Africa have since the beginning struggled for independence and equality among countries in the world through the 1955 Asian-African Conference. Indonesia has also initiated cooperation with African countries in promoting development and peace, the President said.

“With South Africa, Indonesia initiated the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) in 2005 to promote cooperation in political, economic, and socio-cultural fields. We strengthen the cooperation in 2015,” the President said, adding that the Indonesian Government has also specifically focused its foreign policy on Africa.

“We want to transform political ties that we have built since 1955 concrete economic ties by promoting investment, reducing and eliminating trade barriers, and promoting technical cooperation,” the President added.

Therefore, President Jokowi said that Indonesia supports the development of equal partnership between G-20 countries and Africa.

During the session, President Jokowi also mentioned the issue of digitalization. The President believes that digital technology would further change and dominate economic activities. “Indonesia supports closer cooperation to formulate right policies in anticipating changes in the economic, business, and manpower due to changes in automaticity technology and artificial intelligent,” President Jokowi said, adding that Indonesia also pushes for cooperation in tax matters to handle digital economy and e-commerce in order to create a just global tax system.

Indonesia, the President added, also supports the development of insurance and financial facilities for developing countries in facing the threats of pandemics. “Indonesia pushes for closer cooperation between WHO and the World Bank to tackle the threats of pandemics that can ruin the economy and create humanitarian crisis,” the President concluded.

Also attending the session were Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Thomas Lembong, and Indonesian Ambassador to Germany Fauzi Bowo. (EN/AS/ES) (EP/YM/Naster)