Minister Suharso Emphasizes the Role of South-South and Triangular Partnerships to Address Global Uncertainty

GENEVA – The South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) has become one of Indonesia’s foreign policy priorities under the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). 

During a working visit to Geneva, Switzerland, the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Suharso Monoarfa, discussed strategies to enhance the SSTC and Indonesia's role as the Co-Chairman of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC). GPEDC is an intergovernmental platform aimed at strengthening development multilateralism through strategic policies like SSTC. In a speech titled "Advancing the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Towards Transformative Change" at The South Centre in Geneva on Monday (15/1), Minister Suharso explained the importance of SSTC in addressing global uncertainties.

"The increasing breakdown of relationships between major countries marks a deviation from the traditional pattern of global economic integration. As various countries suffer the negative impacts of this trend of separation, southern countries must work together to ensure that potential disruptions to the global supply chain in the future can be better managed, without relying solely on what happens in developed countries," expressed Minister Suharso. 

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development showed that in the 16 years between 2005 to 2021, the amount of South-South trade increased from 17 percent to 28 percent. Minister Suharso noted that this figure can be further improved through the SSTC, especially in three aspects: knowledge exchange, strategic alignment, and partnership for policy innovation.

Indonesia will discuss these enhancement strategies during the High-Level Forum on GPEDC Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in July 2024. As the organizer, Indonesia will lead discussions on strategies to enhance the role of SSTC as an engine for sustainable global economic value exchange. 

"I hope that collaboration with the South Centre can empower policy research on the enhancement of South-South Cooperation and will provide valuable input for the preparation of the 2024 High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships, which is expected to reflect the interests of developing countries, including those within the G77, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Asia-Africa Movement," concluded Minister Suharso.