The Republic Of Indonesia Is Considered To Be ASEAN's Best Friend To Become A Global Economic Axis

Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (Kadin) Arsjad Rasjid. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (Kadin) Arsjad Rasjid assessed that Indonesia has a great opportunity to lead the revolution to make ASEAN the global economic axis.

Indonesia has a turn to hold the Chairship of the ASEAN Summit in 2023. Arsjad was appointed Chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC) 2023, which is an important forum for the business community between ASEAN member countries.

"ASEAN's total population reaches 600 million, Indonesia accounts for 275 million people, the majority of whom are of productive age and are ready to support the regional economy that continues to grow in the future. As leaders of ASEAN Chairship next year, we must voice increased productivity and connectivity within the region," said Arsjad as quoted by Antara, Friday, December 30.

According to Arsjad, ASEAN has become one of the underdogs in economic competitions between regions.

Until finally in the last few decades, ASEAN has shown its scheme as one of the economic powers to take into account.

The ASEAN area departing from one of the poorest regions in the world is one of the exciting growing markets.

In 1970, ASEAN's GDP was recorded at only US$29 billion and continued to grow positively to reach US$3.6 trillion in 2021.

In fact, ASEAN's economic growth rate passes through other developing regions such as Eastern Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia.

Arsjad assessed that the business community is the main engine in the economic growth of the ASEAN region.

He said the business community must support the competitiveness, inclusiveness, and integrity of the ASEAN community amid the shift in global powers from superpowers to the Indo-Pacific region.

"To be able to make ASEAN the axis of the global economy, ASEAN itself must be able to increase productivity and connectivity between countries in the ASEAN region," he said.

Just like the B20 2022, Indonesia will also present several inheritance programs, which will be a concrete work program on two priority themes of the ASEAN BAC 2023, namely digitization and sustainable development.

In addition, Arsjad gave an example of the success of the B20 Summit which generated 68 MoU and investments worth more than 18 billion US dollars.

He hopes that through ASEAN BAC, Indonesia will also produce similar success by increasing investment in projects that are in line with the two priority themes of the ASEAN BAC 2023.

"ASEAN must be an attractive menu for global investors to support regional growth," said Arsjad.