VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia and Norway successfully held the 6th Development Leaders Conference (DLC) with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and the Center for Global Development (CGD) in Oslo on 24 to 25 October 2023. Quoting the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday ( 29/10), Director General Siti Nugraha Maulidiah in her speech as co-host said, equality in partnerships, mutual benefit and dialogue to build trust are the keys to advancing global development cooperation.

Siti Nugraha said that the DLC meeting was a forum for unifying discussions between DAC (Developments Assistance Countries) member countries, most of which are developed countries, and emerging donor countries. Indonesia's leadership in the meeting was a reflection of international recognition of Indonesia's role and contribution as a new emerging donor.

As a co-host representing new emerging donors and the Global South, Indonesia highlights the importance of intensifying constructive dialogue between countries, strengthening global partnerships, and the need for innovation in development funding. Indonesia also sees the need to strengthen the participation of emerging donors and developing countries receiving grants to provide a different perspective balanced.

The 6th DLC meeting discussed the increasing burden on developing countries to pay debt interest which weakens development financing. Participants also discussed the shift in the trend of distribution of Official Development Assistance (ODA) from poverty alleviation programs to climate change issues.

Indonesia and Norway have a unique position in providing leadership for dialogue between donor countries. Norway as a DAC member provides the perspective of a traditional donor country, while Indonesia as a new donor country can bring the views of developing countries and donor recipient countries in establishing balanced development cooperation.

As co-host, Indonesia will host the 7th DLC which is planned to be held in Bali, on June 12 and 13, 2024. At the meeting, Indonesia will encourage more balanced thematic discussions by promoting the interests of developing countries or the Global South.