Strengthen The Regional Economy, Coordinating Minister Airlangga Hoped For APEC Solidarity

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto. (Photo: Doc. Antara / Coordinating Ministry for the Economy)

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto emphasized the importance of solidarity with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to increase economic growth in the region.

During the APEC ministerial meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Coordinating Minister Airlangga proposed two policy focuses, namely synergy of the health system and digital connectivity.

"Access to get vaccines and transparency in health policies is fundamental to opening safe travel access and reconnecting APEC areas," said Coordinating Minister Airlangga.

He encouraged the interoperability of vaccination certificates among APEC's economies, by recognizing and receiving various types of vaccines, which Indonesia has pioneered by recognizing 98 different types of vaccines from APEC's economy and continuing to carry out assessments for the recognition of more types of COVID-19 vaccines.

"Differences in the type of vaccine between economies do not need to be an obstacle for travelers in the APEC area," said Coordinating Minister Airlangga in his statement quoted by Antara, Friday, November 18.

Furthermore, he underlined the important role of digital connectivity which has become an inseparable part of people's lives, where Indonesia has built the interoperability of PeduliLindung COVID-19 tracking applications with other tracking applications, such as TraceTogether (Singapore), Tawakkalna (Saudi Arabia), and European Union DCC (EUU).

In addition, he still sees challenges in realizing digital connectivity, one of which is digital divide that occurs both in and between APEC economies.

"APEC needs to promote broader area interconnectivity. APEC can be a solution to answer the challenges posed. We can encourage Public-Private-Partnership for the development of digital infrastructure and human resources," said Coordinating Minister Airlangga.

He also conveyed the importance of global solidarity that had been proven when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world. "The COVID-19 pandemic shows us that global solidarity is not just jargon. Nothing is really safe, until the whole world is safe," said Coordinating Minister Airlangga.