Indonesia's G20 Presidency should yield real cooperation: Minister

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's G20 Presidency in 2022 should result in real cooperation to address the imbalances arising in a post-COVID-19 world, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated.

"Uneven recovery in the fields of health and economy in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge for all countries. Indonesia will prioritize issues pertaining to the imbalance in health recovery, access to vaccines, and global economic recovery," Hartarto noted in an official statement received here on Saturday.

The minister remarked that next year's G20 Summit will focus on priority issues, such as inclusive health and economic recovery as well as digital-based economic transformation, although some regulatory differences among countries will hinder even global economic recovery.

In addition, Hartarto stressed that Indonesia will raise the issue of equity in access to technology and funds to accelerate sustainable energy development.

"The momentum of organizing the G20 in 2022 enhances economic diplomacy by drawing up a comprehensive action plan for addressing global economic and health issues in the post-pandemic period," he expounded.

To this end, he affirmed that the G20 forum should focus on strengthening multilateral cooperation to ensure balance in economic growth in both developed and developing countries.

The discussion of issues at the G20 Presidency will be divided into two parts: the Finance Track that will deliberate on financial issues and the Sherpa Track that will highlight the non-financial or real sector.

To support the G20 forum, Indonesia, during its G20 Presidency, will synergize with the ministries and institutions functioning as the focal points for each Working Group and Engagement Group.

"Finance and Sherpa Track will work together to ensure concrete achievements in accordance with the president's direction. The social and non-governmental group (Engagement Group) will also be implemented in parallel," he expounded.

Indonesia's G20 Presidency for 2022 will run from December 1, 2021, to October 30, 2022. The forum will feature 150 meetings, with attendees comprising 20,988 delegates from all G20 nations and invited countries.

Hartarto also affirmed that the Indonesian Presidency in the G20 can proffer myriad benefits for Indonesia, one of which is to determine the agenda of G20 discussion topics.

"Indonesia, as a representative of developing countries, will encourage a balance between developed and developing countries in discussing strategic issues at the G20 Summit," he concluded. (*)