Jokowi: ASEAN Needs Extraordinary Tactical Strategy To Face World Conditions

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) gave a speech at the opening of the "ASEAN Business and Investment Summit" at the State Palace, Jakarta, Friday (1/9/2023). ANTARA/Rangga Pandu Asmara Jingga

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) needed extraordinary tactical strategies to deal with the current world situation that is not doing well.

"In the midst of not doing well in the world, ASEAN's strategy cannot be just ordinary. It can't be. ASEAN needs an extraordinary tactical strategy. The strategy is not a big but tactical strategy that is extraordinary," said President Jokowi when opening the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit at the State Palace, Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Friday, September 1.

Jokowi emphasized that ASEAN requires solid collaboration, and does not attach importance to its own interests, both in inter-state, inter-entrepreneur and inter-community relations.

The President said that ASEAN as a family is a harmonious, compact and accomplished family. Jokowi said there is a saying that is relevant to ASEAN, namely "neighbors are like close relatives, and more importantly close neighbors than distant relatives".

"ASEAN has proven itself to be a peaceful, stable, prosperous area," said Jokowi.

ASEAN's economic growth in 2024, said Jokowi, is estimated to be the highest in the world, reaching 4.5 percent year on year (yoy). ASEAN is also the most attractive area for the entry of foreign direct investment (FDI).

"In 2022, 17 percent of FDI will enter ASEAN. This is also the highest compared to other developing areas," he said.

The Head of State explained that ASEAN is enjoying a demographic bonus with the third largest workforce in the world. As many as 65 percent of ASEAN's population has the potential to become middle class by 2030. This is ASEAN's big capital to achieve the goal of becoming an epicenter of growth or growth epicenter.

With the advantages and challenges ASEAN currently faces, Jokowi hopes that the ASEAN Business Advisory Council or the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) can play a bigger role in formulating and implementing cross-stakeholder collaboration tactical strategies.

President Jokowi also hopes that the ASEAN Incorporated concept introduced by ASEAN-BAC will be able to become a bridge of communication to create a mutually beneficial ecosystem, increase competitiveness and improve ASEAN's welfare.