Indonesia Ensures ASEAN is Global Epicentrum of Growth

Indonesia opened a high-level meeting, themed Fostering Partnerships for our Common Future: Enhancing Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships to Accelerate the SDGs in

IDXChannel - Indonesia opened a high-level meeting, themed Fostering Partnerships for our Common Future: Enhancing Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships to Accelerate the SDGs in ASEAN, in New York this week.

Apart from the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, the Opening Session was also attended by the Prime Minister of Thailand, President of Timor-Leste, and the Secretary of UN-ESCAP.

According to Retno, partnerships in the fields of health architecture, food and energy security, along with financial stability will protect the region from future shocks that could hinder the achievement of the SDGs. 

"This partnership is the only way to ensure this area becomes the epicenter of growth," Retno said in a media release on Friday (22/9/2023).

As Chair of ASEAN, Indonesia believes that inclusive partnerships to achieve the SDGs remain a priority under the theme ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth. Despite the many challenges as Chair of ASEAN in 2023, Indonesia will continue to advance the region as a global epicenter of growth.

ASEAN's future, Retno stated, must be green, sustainable and inclusive for the ASEAN community through an energy transition in the region. The future of ASEAN's economy is also digital through the ratification of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, which is expected to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs in the region.

This High-Level Meeting is part of the High-Level Week series of the 78th UN General Assembly and one of several ASEAN-related activities in New York. The Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN, and several Thai NGOs were also involved as panelists at this meeting. (WHY)