The Historic South to South Agreement Gives Birth to New Hope, IAF and HLF-MSP in Bali Conclude with Great Success.
Denpasar – The 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) and the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF-MSP) 2024 held in the Island of the Gods have reached their final stage, marking a new historical milestone in South-South cooperation. A number of important agreements have been established, marking a new chapter in the relationship between Indonesia and Africa.
One important point that was agreed upon is the strengthening of economic cooperation. The Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas), Suharso Monoarfa, emphasized that transformative steps and stronger international cooperation are needed for South-South countries to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda for 2030.
“The step is necessary because Southern countries are facing significant challenges, such as unstable economic growth, infrastructure deficits, disruptions in global supply chains, and the resurgence of protectionist policies that hinder and erode global trust in global institutions,” said Suharso during the High-Level Plenary Session of the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF MSP) 2024 titled “Building Bridges: Unlocking the Full Potential of Global South through Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships.”
Research from the World Trade Organization, he continued, indicates a scenario where the world is divided into two distinct trade blocs, which could result in a 5 percent decline in global gross domestic product and lead to the fragmentation of world trade.
“The world cannot allow fragmentation.” Facing this tumultuous period is very challenging. “Therefore, transformative steps and stronger international cooperation are becoming increasingly important to advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals agenda,” said Minister Suharso.
Meanwhile, the HLF MSP 2024 also discusses multi-stakeholder partnership solutions as a bridge between North-South and South-South, to fully unlock the potential of Southern countries.
The Prime Minister of East Timor, Xanana Gusmao, appreciated Indonesia’s leadership in the HLF MSP, which raised important issues for developing countries and the Global South, similar to what Indonesia did at the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung in 1955.
“The Bandung Conference introduced important principles for South-South cooperation, such as respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful resolution of disputes, and the application of universal international law,” said Xanana.
According to him, this high-level plenary session continues Indonesia’s tradition of building solidarity among Southern countries and supporting multi-stakeholder partnerships.
