VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Vice President M Jusuf Kalla has expressed the hope that world parliaments would help address global problems under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Among these problems were social gaps, a clean water crisis, and industry and infrastructure inequality, Kalla said while speaking at the "World Parliamentary Forum on Sustainable Development" (WPFSD) in Kuta, Bali Province, which began Wednesday.

Parliaments have crucial roles in planning, budgeting and supervising programs, he stated and added that budget allocation and legislation are among the authorities of parliaments, he noted.

The House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) is holding the forum that concludes September 5.

Initiated in 2017, this year’s event is themed "Combating Inequality through Social and Financial Inclusion," Chairperson of DPR's Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Board (BKSAP) and Chief of the Organizing Committee of WPFSD Nurhayati Ali Assegaf said.

Several parliament chairmen, from Portuguese, Gambia, Timor Leste, and Saudi Arabia, as well as representatives of international organizations around the world, including President of the lnter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Gabriella Cuevas Barron, were attendees at the WPFSD.

The parliament played a significant role in adopting universal, inclusive, and sustainable development policies to ensure that no one would be left behind as it forges ahead to achieve SDGs 2030, Assegaf noted.

Speaking in connection with the theme, Assegaf highlighted the crucial need to support social and financial inclusiveness for putting an end to poverty and realizing equitable development.

Multisectoral cooperation also plays a significant role in SDGs through effective collaborations among stakeholders, academics, business entities, and society.

Several topics that were up for discussion at the forum comprised industrial infrastructure and innovation, DPR RI speaker Bambang Soesatyo noted in his remarks. (ANTARA)