Indonesian Deputy FM Stresses Middle Income Countries Role in Promoting Global Inclusivity

Manila: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arrmanatha Christiawan Nasir affirmed Indonesia’s unwavering commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), despite prevailing global uncertainties and its status as a middle-income country.

This commitment stated at the High-Level Segment of the High Level Conference of Middle-Income Countries Manila, 29 April 2025. Deputy Nasir said that despite global volatility, Indonesia has remained steadfast in pursuing sustainable development.

“By 2024, as an Middle-Income Countries (MIC), Indonesia achieved an average growth of around 5% for the last decade, reduced poverty to 8.57%, improved income distribution, covered over 90% of our population with a national health insurance program, as well as achieving 90 billion digital economy with 10 unicorn start-ups,” said Deputy Nasir, as quoted from Kemlu.go.id, April 29, 2025.

“These outcomes were the result of deep reforms, prudent fiscal management, and a firm political commitment to integrating the SDGs into our national development policies,” he added.

Deputy Nasir stated that a strong national industrial policy and global partnership were also key. But equally important, is a conducive global environment, where there is strong commitment to multilateralism, solidarity and partnership, as well as adherence to a rule-based international order and strong multilateral institutions.

However, Nasir said that we are seeing a fast-changing global environment.

Entering unchartered waters, today the backdrop for MIC development includes: intensified great power competition, rising protectionism with trade being weaponized, great trust deficit and diminishing solidarity, weak multilateral institutions and efforts by some to dismantle them.

“If we, MICs, fail to stop this slide, over 100 countries, accounting for 75% of the global population, will be caught in a middle-income trap with continued high level of inequalities, persistent poverty, low growth, and unsustainable external debt,” he said.

It is therefore imperative for us the MICs to act in concert, as a proactive architect of a more resilient future. In this context Deputy Nasir highlighted three points:

First, build concrete a platform of collaboration among MICs to drive South-South cooperation, policy alignment, and enhanced access to global financing including innovative and blended financing.

Second, MIC as group must defend multilateralism and advance urgent reform of the multilateral system. Multilateral institutions way of doing business is no longer sustainable. Multilateral institutions must also better reflect the realities and aspirations of today’s developing world.

Only with a strong a rule based multilateral system can MICs thrive.

Third, foster greater intra-trade among middle-income economies who now contribute over 57% of global GDP, and MICs must leverage this collective strength.

Deputy Nasir also emphasized that middle-income countries are not “economies in waiting.”

“MICs are engines of growth, hubs of innovation, and partners in building a just, sustainable, and resilient global future. In a world drifting toward further fragmentation, MICs must not be passengers of uncertainty MICs must be the pilots of a new, inclusive global future,” Deputy Nasir stated.