Jakarta – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia attended the Ministerial Meeting for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which was held for the first time virtually, on November 16, 2020.
In her statement, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said that the differences of opinion that occurred between several economies have disrupted APEC’s efforts in the last two years and that now is the time for APEC to put differences aside and restore the world’s confidence.
She further stated that this can be done through, among others, the Post-2020 APEC Vision, which will become APEC’s fundamental guide for the next 20 years, continuing the vision of the APEC Bogor Goals 1994, which will end this year. With a strong vision, the APEC can achieve strong, balanced, safe, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth.
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno L.P. Marsudi emphasized two issues to achieve this:
First, APEC collaboration must benefit all APEC members. This can be achieved by increasing connectivity between the members. APEC must continue and synergize various regional connectivity initiatives, put aside competition, and focus on mutually beneficial cooperation.
Second, APEC collaboration must be beneficial to all residents of APEC countries. Since MSMEs represent 97% of businesses and more than 50% of collaborative work opportunities, the APEC must focus on efforts to provide access to the global value chain for MSMEs and encourage Msme’s participation in the digital economy. “Therefore, the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap must be able to support the integration of MSMEs into the digital economy,” added the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
APEC’s Post-2020 vision aims to achieve an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful Asia Pacific community by 2040. There are 3 (three) main pillars in achieving the Post-2020 APEC Vision, namely (i) trade and investment; (ii) digital and technology; and (iii) quality economic growth. This vision is planned to be endorsed by the APEC Economic Leaders during the 2020 APEC Summit on 20 November 2020, which will also be held virtually.
The 2020 APEC Ministerial Meeting resulted in an APEC Ministerial Joint Statement, containing the results of APEC’s work in the year 2020, including efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of the digital economy, and technology, and political support for the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Anang Fadhilah
