Indonesia Invites ASEAN Countries To Maintain The Momentum For Regional Economic Growth

JAKARTA - Indonesia at the 55th ASEAN Economic Minister meeting (ASEAN Economic Ministers/AEM), in Semarang, Central Java wants to invite all ASEAN countries and dialogue partner countries to maintain the momentum of economic growth in the region even though the global situation is increasingly difficult.

"Indonesia invites all ASEAN countries and partners and the world, as well as conveying that the ASEAN region in the midst of difficult situations, in politics, climate, economy, disruption, and so on can still become a dynamically growing area compared to other regions," said the Director General of International Trade Negotiations at the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, in Semarang, Thursday, quoted from Antara, Thursday, August 17.

The 55th AEM starts from 17 to 22 August 2023. On the first day of AEM 2023, Thursday, Indonesia chaired a meeting of senior ASEAN economic officials which will continue until Friday 18 August, before entering the ministerial meeting agenda on Saturday 19 August to Tuesday 22 August.

Djatmiko said that as the holder of the Chairship of ASEAN 2023, Indonesia wants to make ASEAN an area that is recovering quickly from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is also in line with the theme "Indonesian Chairship in ASEAN" this year, namely ASEAN Matters; Epicentrum of Growth.

According to him, Semarang was chosen as the city that organizes the 55th AEM, due to the readiness of its infrastructure and the attractiveness of the city culture, dubbed the city of Lumpia.

There are more than 500 delegates who will attend the 55th AEM on August 17-22 2023. Hundreds of delegates come from 10 ASEAN countries, one Timor Leste observer country, and ASEAN partner countries, such as RRT, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, Canada, the United States, European Union, Britain, and Russia.

The 55th AEM meeting is also a continuation of the retreat meeting in March 2023 in Magelang, Central Java which was attended by ASEAN's economic ministers.

The difference is, in this 55th AEM, economic ministers from ASEAN dialogue partner countries will also attend.

A total of 19 meetings will be attended by ASEAN economic ministers, observers, and ASEAN dialogue partners in the 55th AEM.

Djatmiko explained that on August 19, 2023, the 55th AEM will be focused on the ASEAN internal meeting attended by ASEAN economic ministers. Furthermore, on August 20-22, 2023, the meeting will be focused on ASEAN ministers with external or ASEAN dialogue partners.

Indonesia hopes to gain a number of benefits from organizing the AEM series, including to accelerate national economic recovery, increase Indonesia's participation in regional and global supply chains, increase cooperation and capacity, and support the achievement of ASEAN centrality targets according to the vision during the Indonesian Chairmanship period in ASEAN 2023.

Indonesian Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan or Zulhas previously said that the 55th AEM is also expected to support digital economic growth in the region, encourage increased competitiveness, strengthen Indonesia's position as a growth center in Southeast Asia, and encourage investment flows.

"Another benefit is increasing the participation of domestic and international business actors and supporting the promotion and increase of MSME participation. This activity can also improve Indonesia's good image, including Central Java as a center for economic, social and cultural growth," said Zulhas.