"Joining BRICS is a strategic step as well as the right policy so Indonesia's position is increasingly strong and is taken into account by both the United States and Western European alliance countries, and also by the countries that are members of BRICS," he said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
By joining BRICS, he added, President Prabowo Subianto is carrying out the Constitutional mandate to adopt a free and active political approach while still prioritizing national interests.
"As conveyed by (Indonesia's founding father) Mohammad Hatta 'rowing between two reefs,' what President Prabowo did was fully side with national interests and not side with one of the global political power blocks," Soeparno said.
He further said he believes that full membership of the BRICS is a strategic step to support the achievement of Indonesia's economic growth target of 7 to 8 percent by expanding its export market.
Currently, BRICS members account for more than 40 percent of the world's population, including emerging markets in the Middle East.
"If we talk about the economic proportion of BRICS countries, there has been a significant increase from 1995, which was only 17 percent, to more than 30 percent in 2022," he noted.
"This is an opportunity to get an alternative market while increasing bargaining position amidst the escalating China and US trade war," he added.
In addition to market expansion, he said that Indonesia's accession to BRICS will generate investment opportunities as well as funding for government projects, ranging from infrastructure to renewable energy.
"Joining BRICS allows Indonesia to get more investors in countries whose economies have grown significantly in recent years," Soeparno explained.
"One of the funding we need right now is to finance the transition to renewable energy. There is also an opportunity for transfer of knowledge from BRICS countries' specializations such as digitalization in India and technology in China," he added.
Indonesia was officially recognized as the bloc's newest member on Monday.
Brazil, the 2025 BRICS chair, congratulated Indonesia on its accession and praised the country's support for the priority issues brought up during Brazil's chairmanship.
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Translator: Melalusa Susthira Khalida, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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