Deputy Minister Of Foreign Affairs Tata: Medium-Income Countries Must Be Pilots Of The New And Inclusive Global Future

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Arrmanatha Christiawan Nasir, said that medium-income countries are engines of growth to innovation centers, so they must become new and inclusive global future pilots.

He said that while attending the High-Level Conference of Medium-Income Countries (MICs) which was held in Manila, Philippines, Tuesday, April 29.

The diplomat who is familiarly called the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tata said the importance of a conducive global environment, where there is a strong commitment to multilateralism, solidarity and partnership, as well as compliance with a strong international order based on multilateral rules and institutions.

"However, the global environment is changing rapidly. Competition for great strength is getting tighter, increased protectionism with trade being used as weapons, a large deficit of trust and reduced solidarity, weak multilateral institutions and efforts by several parties to dissolve it," said the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, quoted from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement. RI, Tuesday 29 April.

"If we fail to stop this slump, more than 100 countries, covering 75 percent of the global population, will be caught in medium income traps with continued high inequality, continued poverty, low growth, and unsustainable foreign debt," he warned.

Therefore, Deputy Foreign Minister Tata invited MICs to act together as proactive architects for a more resilient future.

Furthermore, in this context, Deputy Foreign Minister Tata highlighted three main points.

First, MICs must build a concrete collaboration platform to encourage South-South cooperation, policy alignment, and increase access to global financing including innovative and mixed financing.

Second, MIC as a group must maintain multilateralism and advance urgent multilateral system reforms. The way of doing business multilateral institutions is no longer sustainable. Multilateral institutions must also reflect the realities and aspirations of developing countries today.

"Only with a strong and rule-based multilateral system, the MICs can thrive," he stressed.

Third, the need to encourage greater intra trading among middle-income countries which now account for more than 57 percent of global GDP, and this collective force must be exploited.

Deputy Foreign Minister Tata said middle-income countries are not "states that are waiting."

"I agree with the speakers this morning, middle-income countries are the engine of growth, center of innovation, and partners in building a global, just, sustainable, and resilient future," explained the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.

"In an increasingly fragmented world, medium-income countries should not be passengers of uncertainty medium-income countries must become new and inclusive global future pilots," he exclaimed.

On the same occasion, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tata said Indonesia remains steadfast in realizing sustainable development (SDGs), despite global turmoil.

Until 2024, Indonesia as part of the MIC has succeeded in achieving an average growth of around 5 percent over the past decade, reducing poverty to 8.57 percent, improving revenue distribution, covering more than 90 percent of our population with the national health insurance program, and achieving a digital economy worth 90 billion with 10 unicorn startups.

"This is the result of deep reform, wise fiscal management and strong political commitment to integrate SDGs into our national development policies," he explained.

He added, as other speakers highlighted, the strong national industry policy and global partnership are also key.