Developing countries strive for downstream rights: President Widodo

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo said that developing countries strive for the right to pursue downstreaming of raw natural resources in order to achieve added value and adequate profits.

“Did developing countries get adequate profits from raw material exports?   The answer is no. Thus, developing countries continue to fight for downstream rights," the president said at the 2nd ASEAN Global Dialogue: Post COVID-19 Comprehensive Recovery, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Sunday, as quoted in a statement issued by the Press, Media and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat.

World trade must be regulated by considering the development rights of developing countries, he opined. He also pointed out at difficulties impeding developing countries when they want to pursue downstreaming.

The development right of developing countries is one of the three main focuses conveyed by Jokowi to ASEAN to face regional economic challenges.

"Although the average economic growth projection is still positive, in the future, the regional economic challenges will be even more severe, moreover with the threat of a recession. Thus, I want to focus on three things," Jokowi said.

Another focus is the improvement of ASEAN member countries' fiscal situation. He said that fiscal opportunity must be made to establish financial stability.

Additionally, spending efficiency and budget allocation for crisis mitigation programs, including safety nets for the poor, must be prioritized, he noted.

“Support in sectors which have an impact on the regional economy must also be prioritized. ADB (Asian Development Bank) has identified them, such as tourism, agro-processing, and textiles. These sectors are vital because they involve MSMEs, which represent 90 percent of the ASEAN business sector," he said.

The third focus is improvement of international financial support. President Jokowi emphasized the crucial role of international financial institutions in addressing the crisis and suppressing the impact it caused through flexible financial instruments.

“There are instruments (meant for) emergencies, so they can be used immediately during a crisis, and more importantly, there needs to be instruments that function to prevent crises. This support is important for ASEAN to anticipate the worsening of the crisis in the future, one of which is by improving financial infrastructure in the region, including financial policy synergies," he noted.

At the end of his remarks, he once again stressed  the importance of extensive collaboration to deal with the current crisis. (*)