President Jokowi Opens IORA Summit

President Jokowi and Vice President Jusuf Kalla hold tifa, to be beated to open the IORA Summit, at the Jakarta Convention Center, Tuesday (7/3) morning (Photo: Rahmat/PR)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo admitted that for hundreds of years Atlantic Ocean has dominated the world. Moreover, over the last 30 years it has developed drastically causing the countries in East Asia make a statement that this is the Pacific Century.

However, the President affirmed that Indonesia believes that Indian Ocean, at the moment, has developed into one of the world’s pivot-points. “We believe that Indian Ocean is starting to show its strength reflecting from their people and economy,” the President said at the opening of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Summit, at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Jakarta, Tuesday (7/3).

The President stated the the community of countries in Indian Ocean region is a unique community. The region covers a vast area, has abundant resources, but still have poverty enclaves.“It’s a region that has rich traditions, but needs modernization in a number of aspects,” the President said.

Over the last few years, the President added, IORA has facilitated a number of important initiatives in various sectors and a number of cooperation in maritime sector, for example, in 2015, a declaration of IORA maritime cooperation was issued in Padang, Indonesia.

Since Indian Ocean region is prone to natural disasters, IORA has facilitated a number of concrete developments in disaster mitigation sector.

In the meantime, last year in Bali, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of IORA member states issued a declaration on gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. The President reminded that experiences in all over the world show that the cheapest and easiest way to boost the economy is by empowering the women.“We must bear in mind a quote, which I agree with, “behind every great man there is a great woman,” the President said.

The President appreciated the efforts in various forum under IORA to initiate practical solutions over these real challenges. The President encourage ministers, senior officials, and participants of the Summit to find these solutions and fight for their interests.

On that occasion, President Jokowi mentioned a statement of President Soekarno, more than half of century ago, saying internationalism cannot be fertile, unless it is rooted in the soil of nationalism, but, we must also acknowledge, that nationalism also cannot flower, unless it grows in the garden of internationalism.

Therefore, when technology makes globalization as something inevitable, according to the President, we need internationalism more to find solutions for obstacles as well as challenges. However, as stated by President Soekarno, Indonesia’s internationalism should obey national values to achive a healthy and wise nationalism that tells the truth to the people. “A sincere and brave nationalism that does right things for long-term propsperity of our people”.

Thus, on behalf of IORA, President Jokowi extended his appreciation for the participation of IORA member states during the Summit. “Surely, all of us face a number of economic and domestic political pressures so it is often difficult to attend a Summit like this. Nevertheless, your participation waters the garden of internationalism,” the President said.

The opening ceremony of IORA Summit was attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak, President of South Africa Jacob Zuma, President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena, and President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi.

Also attending the event were Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung. (FID/RMI/JAY/ES)(MMB/YM/Naster)