The Host Country Agreement (HCA) between the Republic of Indonesia and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), fortifying GGGI’s presence in Indonesia has been officially ratified through a President’s Regulation Number 78 Year 2020 and signed by President Joko Widodo on July 16, 2020. The ratification of the HCA demonstrates Indonesia’s commitment to strengthen collaboration with GGGI to facilitate the country’s continuing efforts to transition towards a low-carbon economy and implement the Green Growth Program in Indonesia.

The Green Growth Program in Indonesia was established jointly by the Government of Indonesia (GoI) and GGGI in 2013 and has since strived to develop strategies and approaches for green growth under the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) as the focal point and involving a number of national and sub-national governments. The Green Growth Program believes that economic growth and environmental sustainability are not merely compatible objectives. In reality, their integration is essential for the future of mankind. The HCA is therefore an important instrument for GGGI to continue to support the GoI in realizing such integration in Indonesia.

The HCA also regulates GGGI in carrying out its mandate and functions according to the law of the Republic of Indonesia. The President’s ratification of the HCA officiates and strengthens the strategic cooperation between the GoI and GGGI to carry on the Green Growth Program as one of the driving forces on green growth in the country.

With the HCA ratified, GGGI is committed to continue to support the GoI in addressing the ongoing challenges of climate change and achieving the country’s low-carbon development objectives in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Indonesia’s pledges in the Paris Agreement, as also mainstreamed and stated in the National Medium-term Development Plan 2020-2024. Taking the current COVID-19 pandemic into account, the joint GoI-GGGI Green Growth Program will also explore challenges and opportunities posed by the pandemic, the links between health and climate crises, and the lessons learned from past disasters to build back better and design a green COVID-19 recovery plan in the months to come.