The current pandemic must not lower our enthusiasm to realize the SDGs targets
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto reaffirmed the Indonesian government’s commitment to realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In fact, the pandemic drives us all to assess environmental, social, and governance aspects in each economic activity.

"The current pandemic must not lower our enthusiasm to realize the SDGs targets. Hence, we need to find new ways, so that we are able to make a leap in achieving the SDGs targets simultaneously," Hartarto noted in his opening remarks at a Sustainable Finance Webinar on National Economic Recovery here on Tuesday.

The minister highlighted the government’s myriad efforts to encourage sustainable development, including through the Job Creation Law.

Hartarto noted that the Job Creation Law had streamlined over 80 laws to encourage ease of doing business while still prioritizing the aspect of environmental preservation or sustainability.

Related news: Village SDGs support prevention of child marriage: minister

"Especially for the environment and forestry, three laws have been improved, specifically Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management, Law No. 41 of 1999 on Forestry, and Law No. 18 of 2013 on Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction,” he remarked.

Moreover, the government has encouraged the implementation of a green economy in the financial industry. This encompasses supporting the Financial Services Authority (OJK) that has issued a sustainable finance roadmap.

The roadmap serves as a framework of reference for financial institutions to play an active part and make positive contributions to the sustainable development process.

Hartarto noted that the development of sustainable finance for ushering in national economic recovery would encounter various challenges that should be tackled unitedly.

The minister opined that the biggest challenge for sustainable finance is to edify the public and business actors to harmonize the interests of the social economy and the environment.

"Hence, the government continues to embrace various stakeholders to fulfill commitments and implement sustainable development," he stated. Related news: COVID-19 threatens realization of five goals of SDGs program: BPK





Translator: Kuntum KR, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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