Vientiane, djpb.kemenkeu.go.id – The establishment of the ASEAN Treasury Forum (ATF) is one of the topics of discussion in the series of activities of the ASEAN Finance and Central Bank Deputies Working Group Meeting (AFCDM-WG) on 21 and 23 February 2024 in Vientiane, Laos. This discussion is a follow-up to the High-Level Meeting agenda at the ASEAN Finance Minister and Central Bank Governors' Meeting (AFMGM) in Jakarta, 23 August 2023.
ATF is expected to be able to strengthen collaboration in the fields of treasury and public finance management between ASEAN countries. This was conveyed by the Head of the Sub-directorate of Research and Development, and Institutional Cooperation, Directorate of Treasury Systems, Directorate General of Treasury, Siska Indirawati in a forum attended by treasury representatives from all ASEAN countries.
"The ASEAN Treasury Forum has a strategic role so it is hoped that it can support financial integration and maintain economic stability in the ASEAN region," explained Siska.
Indonesia, as the initiator of the formation of the ATF, took a strategic role in the meeting.
The delegation from the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia was led by the Head of the Center for Regional and Bilateral Policy at the Fiscal Policy Agency, Yogi Rahmayanti, as chairman of the meeting. Meanwhile, Siska acts as Head of Delegates (HOD) who explains the progress of discussions on the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the formation of the ATF which has been taking place from November 2023 to the end of January 2024.
At this forum, all ASEAN countries expressed support and approval for the TOR which had been prepared and adjusted based on input from ASEAN countries. The delegates agreed on the importance of ATF as a special forum that can become a peer-learning platform for ASEAN countries to increase treasury and public finance management capacity through various cooperation and benchmarking programs between ASEAN countries.
One of the important points agreed upon was that Indonesia would become ATF Chair in 2024 and 2025, to ensure the continuity of ATF activities in the first two years. This support from ASEAN countries also represents recognition of Indonesia's leadership in issues related to public finance management and treasury in the ASEAN region.
Efforts to establish the ATF in 2024 will continue with the implementation of High-Level Meeting and Treasury Seminar activities in the series of activities of the ASEAN Finance Deputies Meeting (AFDM) and ASEAN Finance Ministers Meeting (AFMM) in April 2024 in Luang Prabang, Laos, to obtain approval from the Finance Ministers of ASEAN countries, which will officially mark the formation of the ATF.
The ceremonial launching as well as the first ATF meeting will be held in Indonesia in semester 2 of 2024, which will be attended by the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia and all treasury leaders from ASEAN countries. The establishment of the ASEAN Treasury Forum, as well as Indonesia's position as Chair until 2025, will be an important milestone that must be utilized as well as possible in supporting the achievement of the Directorate General of Treasury's vision to become a superior state treasury manager at the world level.
