According to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Jakarta, on October 16, the 2nd Mekong – Indonesia River Basin Connectivity Forum, organized by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, took place in Tangerang City, Banten Province.
The 2nd Mekong–Indonesia River Basin Connectivity Forum was held under the theme: “Energy Security Cooperation in the Region.”
The forum served as an important platform for Indonesia to strengthen energy security cooperation with both public and private sectors in the Mekong region. It was expected to generate innovative ideas for collaboration in green energy financing and technology within the area.
Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Arif Havas Oegroseno, emphasized the importance of innovative financing and cooperation in enhancing energy security and accelerating the green energy transition in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Mekong River Basin. The Deputy Minister noted that Indonesia would need about 285 billion USD by 2030 to mitigate and respond to climate change, while the national budget could only cover around 18%. Therefore, the country has established financial mechanisms to meet these needs, including issuing green bonds, SDG bonds (for projects related to the implementation of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals), and coral reef bonds. In addition, mastering renewable energy technology remains a challenge for Indonesia.
The thematic discussion session at the forum featured representatives from the Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRCS), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Asia-Pacific Energy Research Centre (APERC), focusing on issues related to the future of energy security cooperation in Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, the business roundtable on energy security provided an opportunity to connect stakeholders from Indonesia and Mekong River Basin countries in seeking practical cooperation opportunities. Enterprises and organizations from Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia shared their experiences in development, governance, and cooperation in the energy sector.
Associate Professor, Dr. Van Pham Dang Tri – representing Can Tho University and CT Group – shared Vietnam’s experiences and emphasized the importance of coordination between universities and enterprises to ensure the linkage of the “three parties” including government, academia, and business in promoting sustainable development trends in Vietnam as well as across the entire Mekong River Basin. Associate Professor, Dr. Van Pham Dang Tri, stated that Vietnam’s development should be closely linked with other countries in the Southeast Asian region, especially those within the Mekong River Basin.
For her part, Mrs. Eniya Listiani Dewi – Director General of New Energy, Renewable Energy, and Energy Conservation under the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources – emphasized that countries in the region can cooperate and exchange energy products, not only in terms of goods but also in services and expertise. This is a potential area of cooperation between Indonesia and the countries in the Mekong River Basin.
________________________
Follow CT Group on Facebook for the latest updates and news!
