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| Indonesia Hopes ASEAN Will Be More Responsive to Development Issues. |
PEWARTA.CO.ID - Indonesia is urging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to be more proactive in addressing development gap issues across the region. This expectation was expressed by the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, as shared in an official statement on Monday.
Edi Prio Pambudi, Deputy for International Economic Cooperation at the ministry, represented Indonesia during the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits. He conveyed optimism that ASEAN will intensify its efforts in tackling these issues more effectively.
"We have many initiatives for the sustainability agenda, but what is more important is how we formulate a strategic action plan to carry out these various initiatives," Pambudi stated.
The summits, held from October 6 to 11, 2024, in Vientiane, Laos, provided a platform for discussing economic challenges in the region. The discussions spanned topics such as the regional economic landscape, progress in economic achievements, and the implementation of the ASEAN Blueprint 2025.
Additionally, the forum delved into key issues such as sustainability, digital transformation, and the preparations for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Strategic Plan for 2026-2030. The inclusion of Timor-Leste's membership and agreements on several documents to be finalized at the ministerial and head-of-state forums were also part of the agenda.
"I congratulate Laos on its 2024 ASEAN Chairmanship. There have been many positive achievements, but there are several initiatives that need to be paid attention to in the future," Pambudi remarked, acknowledging Laos’ leadership in the regional bloc this year.
Among the initiatives that Indonesia highlighted was the need for stronger tourism infrastructure. Pambudi also emphasized the importance of considering geopolitical and geoeconomic concerns and identifying potential areas of cooperation with ASEAN partners, including the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Laos’ ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024 revolves around the theme “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience.” This theme underlines the importance of improving infrastructure connectivity, reducing development disparities, fostering economic integration, and enhancing people-to-people connections. Strengthening ASEAN’s partnerships with external stakeholders is also a key focus.
To fulfill these objectives, ASEAN under Laos’ leadership is concentrating on three strategic pillars: integration and connectivity, inclusivity, and sustainability. These strategies are expected to help the region collectively achieve stronger resilience and unity amid the dynamic global environment.
