Bali, 10 June 2022 -
The G20 infrastructure working group meeting, which is part of the Infrastructure Working Group (IWG), was held again on 9-10 June 2022 to continue addressing the G20 agenda in the infrastructure sector. This 3rd IWD, which was conducted in a hybrid format in Nusa Dua, Bali, was attended by several representatives from member countries and international organizations. Other delegates participated in the discussion virtually.
The two-day meeting was conducted to offer updates on the progress of completion of deliverables and to receive further inputs from member countries. Co-chairs from Australia, Brazil, and the Indonesian Presidency expressed their appreciation of the good cooperation with international organizations as well as the contributions made by member countries in the completion of the deliverables of the six IWG agendas.
The 3rd IWG's first day focused on three agendas: sustainable infrastructure investment, social inclusion and regional inequality, as well as post-pandemic transformative infrastructure. Several reports supporting the completion of deliverables have been completed and presented by international organizations, including the OECD's Report on Advancing the Environment and Data for Sustainable Infrastructure Financing and the GI Hub's Report on Infrastructure Transition Pathways, which support the IWG agenda related to sustainable infrastructure investment.
In addition to outlining the progress of deliverables, on the first day of the meeting, Swiss representatives highlighted their experiences in developing a sustainable infrastructure project. Indonesia, represented by PT Indonesia Infrastructure Finance (IIF), was also given the chance to present on bridging regional disparities (sub-national) through infrastructure development in Indonesia.
On the first day of the meeting, the Presidency and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) co-hosted a High-Level Seminar on Digital Infrastructure: Closing the Digital Divide, which featured Dr. Daron Acemoglu, a professor of economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as well as speakers from various countries, international organizations, and the private sector. The seminar addressed the issue of the digital divide, particularly from a regulatory standpoint, the role of the public and private sectors, as well as innovative financing structures in digital infrastructure development, all in keeping with the IWG agenda for digital infrastructure development.
In her remarks, Sri Mulyani, the Minister of Finance, emphasized the G20's role in improving global digital infrastructure to allow digital transformation. "Some of the challenges in improving digital infrastructure," she continued, "are how to build an integrated and innovative public/private financing scheme and a supportive domestic climate and a financial framework that attracts investment." As a result, this meeting examined ways to overcome these challenges to improve global digital infrastructure and ensure an inclusive global recovery.
On the second day of the 3rd IWG meeting, three more agendas were discussed: Quality Infrastructure Investment (QII) indicators, digital infrastructure and InfraTech, and GI Hub governance. All deliverables are targeted to be completed by September 2022. It is envisaged that the QII and InfraTech indicators, in particular, will be finalized and approved at the Minister of Finance and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting in July 2022.
