Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy said the Indonesian government opened the door to collaboration to improve human welfare in the ASEAN region.
He said this when he was the keynote speaker at the opening of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Knowledge forum in Nusa Dua, Badung Regency, Bali Province on Sunday (7/5/2023).
“The Indonesian government welcomes various initiatives and opens the door for stronger collaboration in the future,” Muhadjir said as quoted by InfoPublik from Antara on Sunday (7/5/2023).
He continued, poverty reduction efforts in Indonesia and ASEAN member countries face considerable challenges. The threat of global recession, climate change, and geopolitical factors are major challenges in poverty reduction.
To overcome these impacts, Muhadjir said, it is necessary to build a development agenda that is resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and adaptive to potential crises and unexpected disasters.
He assessed that energy security and food security must be the main orientation of the Government by strengthening social protection schemes and subsidies, especially for the poor and vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities, the elderly, children and women.
In addition, it is also necessary to strengthen the business sector through real sector safety nets and financial sector safety nets. According to him, the extreme poverty rate of ASEAN member countries in 2020 is already below five percent.
Some have even reached zero percent, namely Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, showing that governments in ASEAN member countries have a great commitment to eradicating poverty and realizing welfare for their residents.
“The achievement of ASEAN’s success is a provision to enrich poverty reduction interventions and formulate strategic steps in the future,” Muhadjir said.
Furthermore, in the Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) for the 2020-2024 period, the Indonesian Government has set the elimination of poverty as one of the main priorities, especially the elimination of extreme poverty.
“On behalf of the Indonesian Government, I appreciate and thank all of you, resource persons and participants who have been willing to share their knowledge at this ASCC Knowledge Forum,” said Muhadjir. (InfoPublik/Photo: KemenkoPMK).
