Why Indonesia should not fail its G20 presidency

Global helm: Indonesian President Joko Widodo giving the opening address at the G20 finance ministers’ meeting in Jakarta in February. – AFP

NO one could have expected a full-scale war to break out in Ukraine. The war is happening right as simultaneously, Indonesia is at the helm of the Group of 20. It is Indonesia’s destiny to navigate the complex situation as it holds presidency of the world’s most prestigious mechanism on economics and finance.

Historically, Indonesia has been successful in hosting and chairing many prestigious international meetings, such as the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung, West Java; the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bogor, West Java; Bali’s climate conference; and numerous Asean’s landmark agreements contributing to regional peace, stability and prosperity, including the launch of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest trade agreement, when chairing Asean in 2011.