Indonesia Agrees to Expansion of COVID-19 Funds to Become ASEAN Response Fund

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Indonesia will expand the COVID-19 Response Fund to become the ASEAN Response Fund. Where the COVID-19 Response Fund is fundraising for handling the COVID-19 pandemic in ASEAN countries.

The plan was conveyed by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers, namely the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat (AMM), at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, Saturday.

"We (ASEAN members) agreed to expand the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund to become the ASEAN Response Fund", Retno said, quoting Antara.

ASEAN member countries previously had an ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund, which was agreed upon at the 28th ASEAN Coordinating Council in Hanoi in 2020. The fund is a collaborative emergency response action fund for handling COVID-19.

However, the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund whose management is facilitated by the ASEAN Secretariat is voluntary and open to support from ASEAN member countries, dialogue partners and other ASEAN external partners.

ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund funds were also obtained from the allocation of cooperation money for ASEAN Plus One and ASEAN Plus Three, which consists of Japan, South Korea and China.

Even though there is a plan to establish an ASEAN Response Fund, Foreign Minister Retno did not explain specifically the objectives, guidelines or management arrangements for using the funds.

According to her, the ASEAN Response Fund is one of Indonesia's efforts to make ASEAN a centre for economic growth in the region, an aspect which is also the theme of Indonesia's chairmanship in ASEAN this year.

Indonesia is also committed to encouraging several ASEAN collaborations under its chairmanship this year, including anticipating food crises, strengthening health cooperation, and tackling the crime of trafficking in persons.

While holding the ASEAN chairmanship, Indonesia raised three priority issues, namely recovery and rebuilding, digital economy, and sustainable development.