UNS Welcoming the Second Edition of       

                         MIKTA Goes to Campus

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia in cooperation with Sebelas Maret University (UNS) held the 2^nd edition of MIKTA Goes to Campus (MGTC) talk show in Surakarta, Central Java, on Tuesday (17/4).

“MIKTA Goes to Campus is part of efforts to bring closer public attention, especially students and academics, to MIKTA cooperation and to familiarize Indonesia’s chairmanship of MIKTA,” said the Director General of Multilateral Cooperation, Febrian A. Ruddyard, in the MGTC event at UNS.

As the coordinator of the cooperation forum of Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, and Australia (MIKTA) in 2018, Indonesia adopted  the theme “Fostering Creative Economy and Contributing to Global Peace.” This theme was in line with Indonesia’s efforts to mainstream the role of creative economy on economic growth and realizing international peace and security.

“Talk show MIKTA Goes to Campus today is expected to be one of the events to introduce various programs of Sebelas Maret University that can be collaborated with MIKTA member countries,” said the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of Sebelas Maret University, Prof. Drs. Sutarno, M.Sc , PhD, when opening the talk show.

Attending the talk show were the Director General of Multilateral Cooperation the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ambassador of Mexico and representatives from the South Korean and Australian Embassies, and involving  academics and think tanks in order to gather feedback on MIKTA’s increasing role, relevance and cooperation.

The topics of discussion covered in the second edition MGTC included the founding objectives, characteristics and achievements of cooperation, opportunities and key challenges, program initiatives during various periods of chairmanship, and future MIKTA prospects. The speakers emphasized the importance of encouraging the increase in MIKTA cooperation by involving various non-governmental actors, including academics, opinion-shapers, journalists and youths.

“MIKTA is not formed to compete with other existing international groups or organizations, but to bridge the differences of interests between developed and developing countries. In addition, MIKTA also becomes a consultative framework for addressing global challenges,” explained the Mexico’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Armando Gonzalo Álvarez Reina.

The Head of Undergraduate Program of International Relations of the University of Indonesia who is  also a member of MIKTA Academic Network, Mr. Shofwan Al-Banna added, “Since its establishment in 2013, MIKTA has at least three major achievements, namely as the world’s first inter-regional cooperation forum, MIKTA’s diversity and its role as a catalyst for various initiatives addressing global issues.”

“In addition to MIKTA Academic Network, some MIKTA’s concrete forms of cooperation that have run among others MIKTA Innovation Group and MIKTA Diplomatic Community” were presented by the Director General of Multilateral Cooperation. Previously, the first MGTC program was held at the University of Indonesia on 8 February 2018.

In addition to MIKTA Goes to Campus, Indonesia has filled in its chairmanship by organizing MIKTA Senior Officials’ Meeting, MIKTA Policy Planning Consultation and the launching  of MIKTA special edition book. MIKTA’s next activity that is MIKTA Panel Discussion on Women and Peacekeeping in April 2018 was in collaboration with the Peacekeeping Training Center (PMPP) of the Indonesia’s National Army (TNI).

MIKTA was an innovative partnership consisting of Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia. This cooperation was formed in 2013 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. (Source: Directorate of Development, Economy and Environment/MFA Indonesia)

https://www.kemlu.go.id/en/berita/Pages/UNS-Welcoming-the-Second-Edition-of-MIKTA-Goes-to-Campus-.aspx