Bandung, 14 May 2024: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia hosted a high-level conference to commemorate the 60th anniversary of UNCTAD in Bandung, Indonesia, under the theme ‘Charting a New Development in a Changing World.’

ERIA, as a longstanding partner of UNCTAD, was invited to provide an overview of the economic standing of developing countries in the global economy. ERIA’s President Tetsuya Watanabe, participated in High-Level Panel 1 alongside Pedro Manuel Moreno, the Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD; Marco Kamiya, country representative of UNIDO; and Ambassador Febrian A. Ruddyard, Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the UN in Geneva and President of UNCTAD’s Trade and Development Board. The session was moderated by Dr Ditya Agung Nurdianto, Director for Trade, Industry, Commodities, and Intellectual Property of MOFA Indonesia.

In his remarks, President Watanabe emphasised the need for transformation in global governance to give developing countries a more significant voice in charting a just and sustainable future. He highlighted projections that ASEAN and India are poised to become the fourth and third largest economies by 2030. Despite a slowing global economy, developing Asia remains robust and continues to grow rapidly.

President Watanabe also introduced ERIA’s new initiatives to support regional development, particularly in digital transformation and energy transition, highlighting ERIA’s activities under the E-DISC and AZE Centres.

In closing, he congratulated UNCTAD on its 60th anniversary, celebrating 6 decades of tireless efforts to advance the role and position of developing countries. He also applauded the Indonesian government for its strong leadership as President of the Trade and Development Board of UNCTAD. President Watanabe reaffirmed ERIA’s commitment to continue working closely with UNCTAD to support developing countries in the rapidly changing global landscape.