President Jokowi kicks off Indonesia’s ASEAN chairmanship in Jakarta – Inforial

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo delivered an opening speech at the 2023 ASEAN Indonesia Chairmanship Kick-Off event on Sunday, organized by the Foreign Ministry and the Jakarta administration Government of DKI Jakarta at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta.

Jokowi expressed confidence that under Indonesia’s chairmanship this year, the ASEAN member states would continue to contribute and offer positive solutions for the world amid the challenging global situation, especially in the economic sector.

“This year, Indonesia became the chair of ASEAN in the middle of a very difficult global situation. Economic crises, energy crises, food crises, war, everything is happening,” said the President.

“However, I believe that ASEAN remains important and relevant to the people, the region and the world, that ASEAN will continue to contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. That ASEAN will continue to maintain economic growth in line with our theme ‘ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth,’” he said.

In line with the theme of Indonesia’s 2023 ASEAN chairmanship, the President continued, “Indonesia, as the chair and host, is expected to raise new ideas and initiatives in overcoming challenges and other crucial issues of concern in the ASEAN region and the world”.

Following his speech, the event presented a discussion with the ASEAN Cooperation Director General Sidharto R. Suryodipuro from the Foreign Ministry. His talk focused on the issues that would take center stage this year, until Indonesia’s chairmanship ended in December.

“There are several important challenges we are facing, such as issues [related to] food security, financial stability, energy security, as well as health issues. After the pandemic, we must make sure to get back up in various economic growth activities, including the development of the digital economy,” said Sidharto.

While he acknowledged that ASEAN states had coped well with these issues last year, the regional bloc had a mission to ensure that Southeast Asia continued to remain a bright spot in the world economy. This was for the sake of not only the region’s economic growth, but also for the more than 600 million people that called the region home.

In addition to the two summits to be held in Labuan Bajo and Jakarta, Sidharto said the year’s calendar also included other important meetings among foreign ministers and economic ministers.

“In total there will be 494 meetings. Around 300 meetings will [be hosted] in various regions in Indonesia,” he added.

The numerous activities covering vast issues required the efforts of various parties to increase public awareness, he said, on what went on at the international events, but more importantly, the benefits they would bring.

The Communication and Informatics Ministry, meanwhile, said it was ready to amplify conversations on Indonesia’s ASEAN role, and was supporting its success by readying information and communication technology (ICT) to boost public communication, just like it did during Indonesia’s 2022 Group of 20 presidency.

This year, the ministry was responsible for providing communication infrastructure and developing public communication channels, while disseminating information connected to digitalization and the digital economy.

“We will provide communication infrastructure, for example internet networks, so the summit and side events can take place properly and communication runs smoothly,” said Usman Kansong, the communication ministry’s Director General of Public Information and Communication.

As for communicating with the people, Usman said the ministry would also be facilitating media coverage on various channels, particularly through the provision of media centers at ASEAN event venues.

“The Communication and Information Ministry also has a big role in terms of substance in discussions related to the development of the digital world in ASEAN countries,” he added.

The President set off for Sunday’s launch event from the State Palace on a bicycle. He was accompanied at the kickoff event by a number of Cabinet ministers, including Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud M.D., Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi, State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir and Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, along with Jakarta acting governor Heru Budi Hartono.

Cambodia symbolically marked the handover of the ASEAN chairmanship to Indonesia during a ceremony on Nov. 13, 2022, when Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen handed the gavel to President Jokowi.