ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has reaffirmed its support for Indonesia’s sustainable development agenda following a week-long official visit by its Asia-Pacific Regional Director, Kanni Wignaraja.
Wignaraja, who also serves as UN Assistant Secretary-General, met senior government officials, ASEAN representatives, youth leaders, private sector partners, conservation practitioners, and development agencies to discuss Indonesia’s development priorities and its growing regional role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She said Indonesia is emerging as a leading example of how economic growth, environmental protection, and social inclusion can be pursued in parallel.
“Indonesia is demonstrating how economic progress, environmental stewardship and social inclusion can advance together,” Wignaraja said on June 23, 2026.
“As countries across the region seek pathways to sustainable growth, Indonesia’s experience offers important lessons on partnership, innovation and long-term investment.”
Focus on climate, blue economy and sustainable finance
The visit began in Jakarta with high-level meetings across key ministries, including foreign affairs, food coordination, finance, marine affairs and fisheries, and the national economic council.
Discussions focused on climate action, biodiversity conservation, the blue economy, blended and innovative finance, sustainable food systems, circular economy approaches to waste management, and digital transformation.
UNDP highlighted Indonesia’s growing role in integrating environmental priorities into economic policy frameworks, positioning the country as a reference point for sustainable development in emerging economies.
Youth and digital transformation agenda
A key highlight of the visit was a youth roundtable on employability and digital transformation, where young entrepreneurs and innovators discussed challenges and opportunities facing Indonesia’s next generation.
The dialogue underscored the need for greater investment in digital skills, decent jobs, and youth leadership to ensure inclusive growth in an increasingly digital economy.
Wignaraja also met representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat and the UN Country Team, reaffirming the importance of regional cooperation in addressing shared development challenges.
From urban waste to forest conservation in Sumatra
The UNDP delegation later visited North Sumatra, where Wignaraja met local authorities in Medan and visited the Terjun landfill site to observe community-based waste management initiatives.
The programme showcased efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle waste, which UNDP said demonstrated the role of local innovation in building more resilient and sustainable cities.
The mission continued to the Gunung Leuser ecosystem, one of Southeast Asia’s most important biodiversity hotspots. In Tangkahan and Bukit Lawang, Wignaraja met conservation authorities, forest rangers and local communities working to protect biodiversity while developing sustainable livelihoods.
She noted how community-led conservation efforts had helped transform areas once affected by illegal logging into recognised models for ecotourism and forest protection.
“From urban communities managing waste to local groups protecting forests and wildlife, the examples we saw in North Sumatra show that lasting progress begins at the local level,” she said.
“When communities are empowered and supported, their ideas and solutions can create impacts far beyond their immediate surroundings.”
Indonesia as a regional reference point
Throughout the visit, discussions with government officials and development partners emphasised the importance of policy frameworks that can deliver impact at scale, supported by reliable and sustainable financing mechanisms.
Concluding her visit, Wignaraja reiterated UNDP’s commitment to supporting Indonesia’s priorities in climate resilience, sustainable finance, digital inclusion and nature-based development.
“As one of the region’s largest economies and most biodiverse countries, Indonesia is helping demonstrate that more inclusive and sustainable development pathways are possible, where economy and ecology can thrive together without one undermining the other,” she said.
She added that Indonesia’s experience offers practical lessons not only for ASEAN but for the wider Asia-Pacific region.
The visit concluded with renewed commitments to strengthen cooperation between government, communities, the private sector and development partners in support of Indonesia’s long-term sustainable development goals. (Midwan)
Follow Us at Google News and WA Channel