Fadli Zon Encourages International Trade To Be Balanced At The Indonesia-Africa Forum

Chairman of BKSAP Fadli Zon met with. Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Rebeca Grynspan. (IST)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the House of Representatives' Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP), Fadli Zon, emphasized the importance of a more balanced international trade system between developed and developing countries. This statement was made by Fadli Zon when meeting with the Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Rebca Grynspan, on the sidelines of the Indonesia Africa Parliamentary Forum in Bali.

"The solution to the global development problem lies in cooperation. Developed countries need support to develop downstream industries. The role of UNCTAD is very important in facilitating cooperation between developed and developing countries," said Fadli Zon, in a written statement received by VOI from Denpasar, Bali, Monday, September 2.

Rebeca Grynspan responded to Fadli Zon's statement by appreciating Indonesia's role as a middle power country and voice that could represent developing countries (Global South). He encouraged Indonesia to host the 2025 UNCTAD annual meeting, an international trading forum that is usually attended by the Investment Forum and is able to attract thousands of participants.

On that occasion, Fadli Zon also introduced the Minister of Investment, Rosan Roeslani, to Rebeca to discuss further the plan for the meeting. Fadli Zon highlighted the uniqueness of UNCTAD in the more egalitarian structure of the United Nations (UN) and encouraged horizontal relations between countries.

In addition to the issue of international trade, Fadli Zon also emphasized the importance of supporting Palestine, particularly in efforts to rebuild Gaza. Rebeca Grynspan agrees with Fadli Zon, adding that based on UNCTAD studies, it took 70 years to rebuild Gaza.

In closing, Fadli Zon emphasized the important role of UNCTAD in supporting South-South cooperation, where the economy of Indonesia and African countries is predicted to determine more than two-thirds of the global economy in the future.