Foreign Affairs Minister: Indonesian Leadership to be Shown at IORA Leaders

JAKARTA, IORA - After the visit of King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, as many as 16 world leaders (President, Prime Minister, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister) are slated to visit Indonesia to attend the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA ) Leaders' Summit, in Jakarta, 5-7 March. This is the first summit to be held after it was established 20 years ago. "Amongst the 16 world leaders include South African President, Malaysian Prime Minister, Australian Prime Minister, Vice-President of India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Meanwhile, at the level of Foreign Ministers, six ministers are slated to attend this Summit," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters after attending a limited meeting on Preparation of IORA Leaders' Summit at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (2/3) afternoon. Overall, the Minister continued, the IORA Leaders' Summit will be attended by delegates from 21 member states and 7 dialogue partners. Of the 21 member states, the Minister added, four countries are members of the G-20, while 6 out of 7 countries' dialogue partners are also members of the G-20. "This forum is very crucial to ensure security and safety in the region and to mobilize its economic potential," the Minister said. The importance of this Indian Ocean rim area can be seen from the total population which is 2.7 billion people. In addition, the area is traversed by half of the world containers, one-third of the world cargo, and two-thirds of the world's energy shipments. "It shows how important the Indian Ocean rim is," she said. Show Leadership When it comes to Indonesia's willingness to host the IORA Leaders' Summit, according to the Minister, Indonesia wants to show its leadership in the Indian Ocean Rim region. "This is an addition or a series of leadership roles that Indonesia plays in various areas," the Minister said. Retno explained that Indonesia has played a role in Asian region, in Pacific region, then Indonesia would like to play its role to make a major contribution in the Indian Ocean Rim, which has not had a single good governance. So, Indonesia's leadership will be shown in this Summit. "So once again, we want to use this leadership to fill the governance in the Indian Ocean Rim region. By this governance, we hope that the safety and security in the Indian Ocean Rim will be assured, and therefore, economic cooperation can be materialized," the Minister said. According to the Minister, there are six priority sectors in IORA, namely: maritime safety and security, investment and trade facilitation, disaster risk management, fisheries management, academic, science and technology, and tourism and cultural exchange. Meanwhile, the two cross-cutting issues are about gender empowerment and blue economy. Maritime Fulcrum Minister of State Secretary Pratikno added that IORA was established in 1997, it has been 20 years old. Many meetings were already held, but this is the first time after more than 20 years, IORA holds the Leaders' Summit which will be attended by the Leaders of the 21 IORA member countries. "So the reason why this Summit is held because it is our initiative. Why Indonesia took the initiative, once again because we wanted to be the world maritime fulcrum. We show our leadership not only in the Asia Pacific but also in the Indian Ocean," Pratikno said. Regarding the involvement of the Ministry of State Secretariat, according to Pratikno, his office provides substantial supports prepared by Minister of Foreign Affairs together with Minister of Trade which will hold a business summit in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce (Kadin). "So we have prepared a variety of things needed from reception to the participants. We have prepared accommodation, logistics, venue, including hotel, security, and others," Pratikno said. Pratikno hoped there is no significant problem, so the IORA Committee of Senior Official Meeting can be held on 5 March, then on 6 March, Council of Minister Meeting, and Business Summit, in the evening there will have a Welcoming Dinner by the President, and then on 7 March, the peak of the IORA Leaders' Summit. This is the first summit in the history of 20 years of IORA. "Indonesia wants to be a leader in the Pacific and in the Indian Ocean," Pratikno concluded. Source: Setkab.go.id (Juliah/MUR)