JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Directorate General of Information and Public Diplomacy held a thematic forum for the Coordinating Agency for Public Relations (Bakohumas) with the theme "Indonesian Chairmanship in Developing Eight (D-8), Navigating Global Shifts: Strengthening Equality, Solidarity, and Cooperation for Shared Prosperity" on Thursday.
This forum was attended by more than 100 representatives of the Ministry/Agency Public Relations (K/L) as an effort to align the narrative of the Indonesian Chairmanship of the Developing Eight (D-8) period 2026-2027 so that it is conveyed in a credible, resonant, and impactful manner for national and international stakeholders.
This forum was opened by the Director General of Public Communication and Media of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Fifi Aleyda Yahya and the Director General of Multilateral Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Tri Tharyat, and featured cross-sector speakers from government elements to the media, namely the Director of Inter-Regional Negotiations and International Organizations/PAKOI of the Ministry of Trade Natan Kambuno; Director of Social Culture and Strategic Partnerships Ary Aprianto; Director of Information and Media of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia; Edwin Zhan from Kompas TV and closed by the Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy, Ambassador Heru Hartanto Subolo.
Director General of Multilateral Cooperation, Ambassador Tri Tharyat, emphasized that Indonesia's leadership in the D-8 reflects Indonesia's commitment to strengthening economic cooperation among developing countries in the midst of global dynamics.
"Indonesian chairmanship of the D-8 places this forum as a real economic force of the Global South. The D-8 is not just a potential, but a reality of economic cooperation that is increasingly relevant in the midst of global geopolitical and geoeconomic fragmentation," said Ambassador Tri Tharyat, launching the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (12/2) statement.
This view is also in line with the PwC study in The World in 2050 which shows that all D-8 member countries - except Azerbaijan - are projected to be part of the world's 25 largest economies by 2050, confirming the long-term economic prospects and the strategic role of this forum in the future global economic architecture.
On the same occasion, the Director General of Public Communication and Media of the Ministry of Communication and Digital, Fifi Aleyda Yahya, also emphasized the importance of the orchestration of the narrative of the Indonesian D-8 Chairmanship which is integrated, data-based, concrete policies, and has a real impact on the public.
Communication strategies are directed so that D-8 is not only understood as an elite agenda, but is included in the media agenda and public conversation, and provides concrete benefits for the community.
"Global leadership is not enough to be shown through international forums. It must be understood by its own people. This is where the role of government public relations becomes very crucial," he explained.
This forum also discussed five strategic issues of the D-8 Summit which are the focus of the Indonesian Chairmanship, namely economic and trade integration, halal economic development, blue economy and green transition, connectivity and digital cooperation, and strengthening the D-8 institutions. The five issues are aimed at producing concrete deliverables that have a real impact, including improving economic and trade cooperation, strengthening the competitiveness of member countries, and the effectiveness of the D-8 institutions in the midst of global dynamics.
Synergy across agencies through Bakohumas is the key to maintaining consistency in the narrative, strengthening the amplification of public communications, and ensuring the sustainability of the Indonesian Presidency in the D-8 until after the Summit.
The Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Ambassador Heru Hartanto Subolo, closed the activity by underlining that the Bakohumas Forum is a strategic platform to equalize central issues, strengthen public understanding of D-8, and strengthen a common narrative so that it can respond to the dynamics of public media and information.
The exchange of information in this forum is expected to be input for strengthening Indonesia's sustainable communication programs and diplomacy in the future.
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