Page 44 - BUKU STRENGTHENING THE INDONESIAN PARLIAMENTARY DIPLOMACY FADLI ZON

Linking Economic Growth to

Sustainable Development Goals

for Peace and Prosperity

It is a great pleasure and honor for me to be present here together with the participants of
Standing Committee on Economic and Sustainable Development - Asian Parliamentary
Assembly, driving the theme of “Linking Economic Growth to Sustainable Development
Goals for Peace and Prosperity”. As one of the Deputy Speakers of the Indonesian House of
Representatives, I would like to welcome all participants of the APA Commission in Jakarta,
Indonesia. We are delighted and privileged to serve as the host to parliamentary members of
APA’s member countries, gathering you all in the upcoming series of events.

We all share the belief that Asia is rising even stronger as the driver of global economic growth,
as the dynamics and economic strength of the countries in this region have become more and
more aligned. Certainly, this is not an exaggeration. Qualified sources have revealed that, even
though many countries in this region are still facing difficult challenges amid stringent global
financial situation and due to the impact of less capital flow to developing countries as well
as the tumble of global oil prices, the rate of annual economic growth of Asian countries has
been remarkably encouraging in the last four years of declining global economic growth. This
achievement surely reinforces the confidence to boost economic development of countries in
Asia, moving towards a more inclusive environment in the efforts to eradicate extreme poverty
that has been on going in the last two decades.

In spite of our exceptional performance, the economy of this region still puts upon our hands a
number of critical issues to be addressed going forward. There is an increasing income disparity,
which will only delay efforts to put an end to poverty. If there is no action being taken, this
situation may lead to disrupted social solidarity and create political unrest that will in turn

Selected Speeches of the Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia I 31