VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has expressed the commitment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to narrow the development gap and strengthen the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) locally.

"Including through empowering youth, women, the elderly, MSMEs, and migrant workers," she said while attending the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Summit at the UN Headquarters in New York as quoted from an official statement of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs received by Indonesia Window here on Tuesday (19/9/2023).

In addition, the Indonesian Foreign Minister said, ASEAN is also committed to becoming a resilient community, by increasing investment to sustainable energy security.

"By increasing investment in human resource development, health infrastructure, digital transformation, strong supply chains, and sustainable energy security," she continued.

Not only that, ASEAN also continues to strengthen multilateralism and respect for the UN charter. "That way, the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can get back on track," she added.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi also encouraged countries to provide equal opportunities for developing countries to grow and make development leaps.

"There is no other choice, the world must encourage the creation of a conducive environment for developing countries to grow and make leaps of development. Trade discrimination must stop. Developing countries must be given the opportunity to downstream industries," he said.

The SDGs Summit is an official UN meeting held every four years at the Head of State/Government level to review progress and challenges in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. (VOI/Rama)