4 G20 deals Indonesia’s Jokowi wants to push to showcase his country’s growing clout

The Indonesian president’s administration is keen to use next week’s G20 summit to highlight the country’s potential – and cement his own legacy

Trains, a phase-out of coal funded by rich nations and a regional digital-payment system are among the deals expected to be thrust into the spotlight

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An Indonesian police officer seen in front of a picture of President Joko Widodo takes part in security preparations ahead of next week’s G20 summit in Denpasar, Bali. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 10:11am, 8 Nov 2022

Indonesia is using the Group of 20 summit next week to power through deals ranging from infrastructure to carbon trading that spotlights its ambitions as a Southeast Asian economic powerhouse.

Much is at stake for Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who is aiming for US$89 billion in investments next year while pushing ahead with a US$34 billion new capital in Borneo. All these plans need funding and support from wealthier, developed nations.

“This message is mostly for the domestic audience to show that the G20 forum running this whole time did result in some concrete projects,” said Yose Rizal Damuri, Executive Director at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

People walk past the main gate of the Palace of Yogyakarta, which has been prepared to welcome next week’s G20 summit to be hosted by Indonesia. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

It’s also a way for Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, to leave behind a legacy of growth and investment, he added. Jokowi is currently in his second and final term in power.

Indonesia has long been criticised by analysts for not punching above its weight for economic and diplomatic influence given its domestic pressures and political elites.

Clinching the G20 presidency has been a way for Jokowi’s administration to showcase the country’s potential and his officials are not going to let that opportunity pass. Among the deals that Indonesia is looking to announce are:

1. Rich nations to fund coal phase-out

Indonesia aims to clinch a deal during the summit with rich countries to fund programmes to phase out coal.

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