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Why Indonesia should not fail its G20 presidency
During Indonesia's G20 presidency, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will make sure the pandemic is addressed, the economy recovers and the world is well-prepared for future pandemics.
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Heads of delegates prepare for a meeting on the last day of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Jakarta on Feb. 18. (AFP/Mast Irham)
No one could have expected a full-scale war to break out in Ukraine. The war is happening right as simultaneously, Indonesia is at the helm of the Group of 20. It is Indonesia’s destiny to navigate the complex situation as it holds presidency of the world’s most prestigious mechanism on economics and finance.
Historically, Indonesia has been successful in hosting and chairing many prestigious international meetings, such as the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung, West Java; the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bogor, West Java; Bali’s climate conference; and numerous ASEAN’s landmark agreements contributing to regional peace, stability and prosperity, including the launch of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest trade agreement, when chairing ASEAN in 2011.
These events highlight Indonesia’s leadership and consistency in implementing its foreign policy, which aims to contribute to world peace, security, friendship and partnership.
The G20 was established as the world’s primary inclusive global economic and financial platform bringing together all parties from developed and new emerging economies with their diverse views to deliberate and adopt global policy measures. As a trillion dollar economy and the world’s 16th largest, and as a country that emerged from the devastating 1998 financial crisis with the prestigious status as the world’s third largest democracy, Indonesia’s membership comes with responsibilities.
Reeling from the Asian financial crisis, Indonesia recovered stronger and envisions becoming the world’s seventh largest economy by 2030 while promoting democracy, human rights, sustainable development and multilateralism.
The theme of Indonesia’s G20 presidency, “Recover together, recover stronger”, represents the country’s responsibility to embrace all in its bid to bounce back from the pandemic. It adopts three concrete, deliverable priorities, which are not only in Indonesia’s interests, but are common global priorities: health, energy transition and digital transformation. The theme clearly represents the leadership’s aim of ensuring the G20’s relevance for everyone -- north and south, rich and poor.
The first priority underscores the fact that the pandemic has taught us all crucial lessons in how unprepared we are -- whether developing or developed countries -- and how divisive the narratives when unity is urgently needed.
