Indonesia Raises The Issue Of Equal Access And Vaccine Distribution At The G20

MATARAM - Expert Staff for Inter-Agency Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) Ambassador Muhsin Syihab, said the Indonesian government raised three main issues in the G20 Presidency.

One of them is strengthening the global health architecture, especially related to equality of access and distribution of vaccines between developed and developing countries.

"Indonesia emphasizes the importance of strengthening the global health architecture in accessing various issues related to health, for example, the issue of equality of access and distribution of vaccines, especially between developed and developing countries, because there are still disparities in access and distribution of vaccines in developed and developing countries," he said in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), reported by Antara, Saturday, April 2.

Muhsin said that Indonesia as the G20 Presidency wants concrete results, especially in three main priorities, namely strengthening the global health architecture, digital transformation, and energy transition. These three things become priorities not only in Indonesia's national interest but also in the priority of the global agenda.

"Health is on the global priority agenda because after being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, for 2 years and even before the last three years, the world has experienced very serious difficulties. It even has an impact on the economic crisis as well as social and cultural crises," said Muhsin Syihab.

In addition, it is also necessary to discuss how to establish a vaccine producer hub and Indonesia nationally is seeking cooperation with related parties abroad so that Indonesia becomes a vaccine producer hub.

According to Muhsin, in the global health architecture, efforts are made to discuss issues related to finance, funding, and health issues in general. So that in the G20 there is a "joint finance and health task force" which is expected to have synergy between international agencies such as the IMF, World Bank, and WHO.

"It is important to discuss strengthening the global health architecture. And hopefully, this will become Indonesia's legacy as well as a catalyst for the formation of a pandemic treaty," he said.

In addition to global health, digital transformation was also discussed. Where most of the economies in developing countries, especially in Indonesia, are driven by MSMEs. Therefore, it is necessary to form MSMEs that use digital technology in order to compete in the global arena.

In this regard, it is also necessary to build a digital ecosystem for MSMEs such as digital-based business incubators for MSMEs while strengthening start-ups in the digital economy business.

"Therefore, a process of harmonization and synchronization of policies at the global level is needed in order to encourage MSMEs to enter the global economic ecosystem," he continued.

Meanwhile, related to the energy transition, continued Muhsin, efforts are needed to strengthen access and affordability of new and renewable energy prices. Because it will be very difficult, especially for developing countries, to make the transition from fossil-based energy to newer renewable energy if it is not supported by technology and investment.

"Therefore, Indonesia is trying to voice this on the agenda of the G20 Presidency, because this is not only talking about Indonesia's interests but also the interests of all developing countries," he said.