Gibran Rakabuming Met With The President Of The UN Economic And Social Council

Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming. (Photo: Special)

JAKARTA - Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming held a meeting with UN Council of Economics and Social Affairs (ECOSOC) President Paula Navaes on Tuesday, September 12 local time in New York, United States.

This meeting is part of a series of work of the Mayor of Solo in the United States in order to fulfill the invitation to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations and also the Indonesian Embassy in the United States, as written in a press release received in Jakarta on Friday.

During the meeting, Gibran shared stories about the condition of MSMEs and creative workers in Solo after the COVID-19 pandemic. Gibran said that during the pandemic, Solo MSME actors were adapting and able to take advantage of digitalization to be able to expand the market.

Gibran explained that his party collaborated with the private sector in strengthening MSMEs to be able to expand market access not only in the domestic market but also abroad.

Gibran also said that after the pandemic various offline activities or events in Solo had started to stretch and drive the local economy.

"After the pandemic, activities such as events such as music, culture and sports in Solo have resumed. Even the agenda schedule for events in Solo is already crowded. Later, when I arrive in Solo, there will also be an event presented from Solo in Mangkunegaran. This indicates that the creative economy is starting to stretch and we hope that this can have a positive impact on the local economy like Solo," said Gibran.

In the meeting which was also accompanied by the Indonesian Permanent Mission Ambassador to the United Nations, Arrmanatha C. Nasir, Gibran also briefly explained 17 priority points for the development of the city of Solo.

UN Economic and Social Council President Paula Navaes said that 17 development priorities in Solo were in line with the Sustainable Development Goals program. In addition, President Paula also appreciated this program because he assessed that Solo City really focused on poverty alleviation issues, youth involvement in urban development and the creative economy," said Gibran.

ECOSOC also said that the Solo City Government's policy was considered successful in strengthening MSMEs through digitization, so that it could become a new source of growth.

According to him, this is a real example of various issues that are discussed at the United Nations, where digital platforms can become enablers for achieving inclusive economic growth.

Gibran's meeting is in line with Indonesia's efforts to continue to echo the issue of the creative economy as a global agenda. Currently, the Indonesian government is initiating a draft "Promoting Creative Economy for Sustainable Development" resolution.

This Draft Resolution aims to increase awareness and create cooperation for the growth of the creative economy sector to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030.

In addition to attending a meeting with the President of the UN Economic and Social Council, Gibran is also scheduled to attend the Indonesia Night at the Indonesian Embassy in Washington DC. This event will feature the fashion designers from Indonesia who performed at New York Fashion Week.

In addition, Gibran will also fulfill the invitation from the Indopop organizers to be held at New York's Time Square, USA. This event is a promotional event for Indonesian cultural arts which will also be filled by national artists.