Page 227 - BUKU STRENGTHENING THE INDONESIAN PARLIAMENTARY DIPLOMACY FADLI ZON

In the creation of ASEAN Economic Community, both AIPA and ASEAN should seek to
promote the involvement of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the regional supply chain
and advocating rural development by providing access towards affordable communication
technology to ensure that no one is left behind. While the AEC Blueprint 2025 has recognized
the significance of digital economy, it remains at the periphery.

With regard to the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, we recognize ASEAN’s effort on building
a people-oriented, people-centred ASEAN Community. However, the formulation of ASEAN
Community blueprint and action plan should not be exclusive. Therefore, all stakeholders must
be involved in the process to bring the people to the heart of regional integration. To guarantee
an inclusive change, AIPA and ASEAN must also work together to ensure that the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development is carried out effectively.

Partnership reform between AIPA and ASEAN will enable us to successfully unifying different
people with diverse background, religious values, and ethnicities into one community. Along
with inter-organizational partnership at the regional level, we need to strengthen horizontal
coordination across ministries and emphasize the need to raise awareness on ASEAN among
educational institutions. With stronger partnership between AIPA and ASEAN, there will be
more potential to encourage innovative problem solving, while the interest of the people will
be more likely to be accommodated.

214 I Selected Speeches of the Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia