Indonesia Chooses Creative Economy, Peace as MIKTA Coordinatorship Theme

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia A.M. Fachir.

Jakarta, MINA – Indonesia has chosen the theme of “fostering creative economy and contributing to global peace” for its coordinatorship of the informal consultation and coordination platform among Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey, and Australia (MIKTA) in 2018, Antara News reported.

The focus on global security and peacekeeping is in line with Indonesia`s candidature as Non-Permanent Member to the UN Security Council 2019-2020.

“It is also in line with its vision to play an increasing role in maintaining global peace and security, including through its peacekeeping mission, and in line with its approach in combining soft and hard power in fighting terrorism,” Deputy Foreign Minister A.M. Fachir said in his opening remarks of a MIKTA seminar in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Indonesia`s coordinatorship will also emphasize on the importance of creative economy as an alternative source of economic growth.

In Indonesia, creative economy is regarded as an important pillar of its economic growth, employing nearly 16 million people and contributing around 7.3 percent of the country`s national income.

“As the MIKTA coordinator in 2018, Indonesia requests the support of all MIKTA member states and relevant domestic stakeholders. Indonesia will also ensure the sustainability of existing initiatives, while continuing to make progress,” Fachir added.

Since its establishment in 2013, MIKTA has aspired to become a bridge-builder and agenda-setter in a changing global order by continuously providing space for policy dialogue and innovative diplomacy.

Since then, MIKTA has held nine foreign ministerial meetings, several meetings at the director general and technical levels, and carried out exchange programs, workshops, and outreach activities.

By enhancing cooperation through mutual understanding and information sharing, as well as by playing a more strategic role as consensus maker and bridge-builder in global arena, Fachir believes that MIKTA should best remain as consultative and dialogue for focusing its deliberation on intra-MIKTA activities and to advance bilateral cooperation, as well as intensify consultation on priorities, namely counterterrorism, global security, peacekeeping, sustainable development, gender equality, good governance, democracy, energy, as well as trade and economy.

“We must underscore what MIKTA means for the world, explore new possible cooperation, and continue to be an active regional and global player that constitutes positively to the international community,” he noted. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)