The Indonesian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pahala Nugraha Mansury, invited Ambassadors from Friendly African Countries to an event entitled Afternoon Gathering and Information Session the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum dan High Level Forum on Multi Stakeholders Partnership (HLF-MSP). This activity was carried out in preparation for the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF). (Photo: Kemenlu)
Indonesia’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Pahala Nugraha Mansury invited the Ambassadors of African Friendly Countries to an event titled Afternoon Gathering and Information Session on the Indonesia-Africa Forum II and High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF-MSP). This event was held as a preparation for the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF). MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA.
Indonesia is ready to showcase its global leadership at the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF MSP) and the Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) II 2024 in Bali. By inviting various parties, from heads of state to academics, this forum becomes an essential platform to strengthen international collaboration in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
As an effort to accelerate the achievement of SDGs and increase regional competitiveness, Indonesia actively engages in various international cooperation initiatives. One significant effort is through the organization of the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF MSP) and The 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) 2024.
The international forum, which will be held from 1--3 September in Bali, invites around a thousand participants, including heads of state/governments; heads of international organizations; government officials at the ministerial level; multilateral development banks; the private sector; civil society organizations; philanthropies; and academics. The opening will be carried out collaboratively, with the 2024 HLF MSP by the National Development Planning Ministry (PPN)/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) and the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
The theme for HLF MSP 2024 is "Strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: Towards a Transformative Change." President Joko Widodo is scheduled to open the forum.
The selection of this theme emphasizes the urgency of collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen collective actions to ensure inclusive cooperation. It is expected to generate innovative solutions to respond to various global issues.
In HLF MSP 2024, Indonesia will focus on three global issues: Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships for Strengthening South-South and Triangular Cooperation; Enhancing Welfare and Sustainability through Sustainable Economy; and Advancing Development through Innovative Financing.
"We believe that a multi-stakeholder partnership approach is absolutely necessary not only at the national level but also at the global level. Therefore, this forum aims to increase and renew the global commitment to effective and inclusive development partnerships," said the Director of Foreign Policy and International Development Cooperation at the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, Hendra Wahanu Prabandani, during the Media Briefing Forum Merdeka Barat 9: Road to HLF-MSP and IAF 2024 virtually in Jakarta, Thursday (August 15, 2024).
Both the National Development Planning Ministry/Bappenas and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs agreed that the 2024 High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF-MSP) and the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) 2024 are related. Although each forum has its own special emphasis on different issues, they will hold one joint session considering that the main goal is to address the global crisis.
Through the HLF MSP forum, it is hoped that there will be an exchange of ideas and resources in creating various best practices and applications to address various global issues, including strengthening and transforming South-South cooperation schemes.
Global Power Center
According to data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the volume of trade among southern countries has increased. During the period of 2005 to 2021, trade volumes rose significantly from 17 percent to 28 percent in contribution to global trade.
Therefore, it is expected that these two forums will mutually strengthen the role of southern countries for mutual progress in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063 (Africa's master plan to become a global power center in the future).
At the same occasion, Ministry of Foreign Affair’s Director General for Information and Public Diplomacy Siti Nugraha Mauludiah mentioned that one of the focus points in the Indonesia-Africa Forum 2024 is strengthening development cooperation in Africa. This cooperation strengthening is part of the government's efforts to realize its commitment to support the achievement of global development goals, especially in developing countries.
This commitment by Indonesia is rooted in the spirit of the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference (Bandung Spirit) and is a tangible manifestation of Indonesia's leadership in the non-aligned movement. Concrete evidence of Indonesia's initiative in strengthening this cooperation is that in the last two decades, it has organized at least 1,000 South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) programs.
These SSTC programs have not only been implemented for African countries but also for countries in the Asia, Pacific, Africa, Middle East, South America, the Caribbean, and Eastern and Western Europe. The sectors covered by Indonesia’s SSTC programs are extensive, including agriculture, maritime, fisheries, energy, democracy, good governance, MSMEs, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, disaster risk management, and women's empowerment.
Increased Recognition
Moreover, she also emphasized that internationally, Indonesia is increasingly recognized as a reliable development partner for developing countries. Indonesia's initiatives and its role as an emerging donor are also increasingly acknowledged. This includes assisting several African countries in strengthening food security, health, and energy.
To further strengthen the implementation of Indonesia's international development cooperation, especially in grant provision, Indonesia established the Indonesian Development Cooperation Fund (LDKPI) in 2019. “Since the establishment of LDKPI, the Indonesian government has carried out more than 50 grant programs with a total grant value of over Rp1 trillion,” said Director General Siti Nugraha Mauludiah.
On a different occasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also believes that the 2nd IAF in 2024 will bring business agreements between Indonesian industries and African countries worth trillions of rupiah. Indonesia itself targets business agreements with a concrete value of US$3.5 billion (Rp56.07 trillion). Potential sectors that can be realized in business contracts include fertilizers and energy.
As stated by Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister Pahala Mansury in a media gathering related to the 2nd IAF in Jakarta, besides business agreements, Indonesia also targets agreements between the Indonesian government (G2G) and African governments related to major regional development cooperation designs, including the legalization of trade. free agreement (FTA) with a number of countries which is now reaching the finalization stage.
Writer: Kristantyo Wisnubroto
Editors: Ratna Nuraini/Elvira Inda Sari/Penny Rusman
Translator: Sri Widadi