Indonesia and Zimbabwe News Posted by Harambe at TNT 9-5-2023

TNT:

Harambe:  ASEAN’s Digital Economy Pact to be Game Changer, Indonesia Says | JakartaGlobe (9/4/23)

Chief Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto has said that the digital economy pact that ASEAN had just begun negotiating would become a game changer to the Southeast Asian bloc.

ASEAN over the weekend officially launched the negotiations to the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA). The regional grouping has set a goal to complete the negotiations by 2025. According to Airlangga, the DEFA addresses new technologies that past ASEAN agreements did not house.

“Such as the transformation of artificial intelligence [AI], blockchains, and changes in technologies over the next 2-3 years. The DEFA will become a game changer for ASEAN,” Airlangga said at the ASEAN Business & Investment Summit (ABIS) in Jakarta on Sunday evening.

ASEAN’s digital economy is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2030 under a business-as-usual scenario. Having a DEFA in place is set to double the numbers to $2 trillion by that year. And Indonesia's digital economy can rise up to $800 billion with DEFA, according to Airlangga.

In 2021, ASEAN endorsed the Bandar Seri Begawan Roadmap (BSSR) which called for the commencement of the DEFA negotiations by 2025. This meant that ASEAN began the negotiations much earlier than originally planned.

Airlangga reported that ASEAN’s economy grew between 4 and 5 percent on an annual basis over the past decade. The minister added ASEAN became the fifth-largest economy, and also ranked fourth in terms of exports. ASEAN was the second-largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) last year.

ASEAN posted a 5.7 percent growth in 2022. Airlangga attributed the growth to domestic consumption, trade, and investment. The digital economy was also among the sectors that witnessed an increase in investment last year. Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to the region grew 5.5 percent.

https://jakartaglobe.id/tech/aseans-digital-economy-pact-to-be-game-changer-indonesia-says

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Harambe:  Jokowi Welcomes World Bank, IMF Leaders at Jakarta Palace - En.tempo.co (9/4/23)

Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi received the arrival of delegations from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the Jakarta Merdeka Palace today, September 4, 2023.

World Bank President Ajay Banga and his delegation arrived at the State Palace  Indonesian Time (WIB). Their arrival was greeted by Jokowi and a number of cabinet ministers.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, State Secretary Minister Pratikno, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pahala Mansury were seen accompanying Jokowi in a brief meeting that lasted 30 minutes.

At the second meeting, Jokowi received IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. Donning a pink dress, Georgieva was seen at the Palace  WIB.

Jokowi also met with Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Klaus Schwab who came in  WIB.

Jokowi's meeting with the World Bank, IMF, and WEF was held behind closed doors. The media were only allowed to take photos and videos briefly before being asked to leave the room. 

https://en.tempo.co/read/1767980/jokowi-welcomes-world-bank-imf-leaders-at-jakarta-palace

Harambe:  Mnangagwa Hints At Strengthening The Zimbabwean Dollar | Pindula (9/5/23)

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, during his inauguration and swearing-in for his final term as Zimbabwe’s President, highlighted the significance of a national currency for development. While not explicitly mentioned, his remarks hinted at a preference for the Zimbabwean dollar as the sole currency. Additionally, he indicated a focus on utilizing internal resources to foster economic growth. The future of the United States dollar in the country’s currency system remains unclear. He said:

Comrades and Friends; 

The past five years have delivered valuable lessons on our intricate economy, especially the fact that a national currency that is supported by a vibrant productive sector is indispensable to sustainable development. No country has ever developed without its own currency. Further, we can only develop and grow the economy based on our own internal resources.

I urge us all to believe in ourselves and our abilities, as Zimbabweans and Africans. Development and national prosperity based on what we have is more sustainable and durable. We must take pride in who we are and what we can do for ourselves. 

The numerous mineral resources in our country must be sustainably exploited to leap-frog our industrialisation and development. The lives of our citizens and the fortunes of our country as a whole must be improved. We expect nothing less.

Our economy must realise maximum benefits from increased beneficiation and value addition. As such, my new Administration, through the Responsible Mining Initiative, will ensure greater stewardship over our finite natural resources. These must benefit both present and future generations.

During his speech, President Mnangagwa did not discuss the involvement of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in debt arrears or restructuring. Zimbabwe’s consolidated debt as of June 2023 amounted to $17.5 billion, with $14.04 billion owed to international creditors and $3.4 billion in domestic debt. The country is in arrears with multilateral development banks, including the AfDB. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said Zimbabwe aims to clear foreign debt by December 2025 to access new lines of credit for economic revitalization. The majority of the multilateral debt comprises arrears and penalties for non-payment.

Some context on Currencies:

Zimbabwe adopted a multi-currency system in 2009 as its national currency, the Zimbabwean dollar, faced hyperinflation and devaluation. The system allowed the use of foreign currencies such as the US dollar, South African rand, and Botswana pula as legal tender. While it provided some stability, challenges like limited access to smaller denominations and reliance on external economies emerged. In 2019, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe reintroduced the Zimbabwean dollar as the sole legal tender, discontinuing the use of foreign currencies for most transactions.

 However, the reintroduction has brought its own challenges, including inflation and currency instability. This forced the authorities to allow the use of the United States dollar together with the local currency albeit making it clear they would prefer having the Zimbabwe dollar as the sole legal tender.

Government critics including former Finance Minister Tendai Biti, argue that Zimbabwe should abandon the local currency due to its premature reintroduction without meeting the necessary prerequisites for sustainability. They propose using the US dollar as the sole legal tender until the prerequisites for reintroducing the Zimbabwean dollar are fulfilled.

These critics believe that the public lost faith in the governance of the ZANU PF government, leading to a lack of confidence in the local currency, which they predict will continue to depreciate until governance issues are addressed. 

 https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/09/05/mnangagwa-hints-at-strengthening-the-zimbabwean-dollar/