Civil Society needs to cooperate to advance inclusive and people-centric development in the Indo-Pacific region
September 30, 2022

Given the various developments taking place in the Indo-Pacific region and emergent challenges, there is a vital need for civil society organisations (CSOs) of the region to come together to exchange information and experiences. This was the unanimous view of experts who came together virtually to launch the Indo-Pacific Civil Society Forum (IPCSF), an initiative of CUTS International, a global public policy research and advocacy organisation.

IPCSF is a coalition of CSOs, including think tanks, operating in the Indo-Pacific region. It will be a platform for networking and trust-building, generating awareness, and information dissemination on the impacts of these regional developments on the ground. This will empower and enable them to advocate for inclusive and people-centric development in the region. Since many regional differences have traditionally arisen essentially because countries have misunderstood each other, people-to-people conversations at all levels is very important.

It was recognised that several other players, even beyond the immediate region, also have a role to play in the Indo-Pacific, without diluting key principles such as Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) centrality. Notably, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), a U.S.-led initiative part of its Indo-Pacific Strategy, is just the latest in a long list of recent initiatives centred on the region.

‘ASEAN centrality’ has been a running thread in the visions of the Indo-Pacific that have evolved so far, including the U.S and European Indo-Pacific strategies. This was suggested to essentially mean a pathway to inclusive economic development and open regionalism, which can in turn stimulate regional development. The Indo-Pacific frameworks therefore need to foster open and inclusive development, which is fair and does not lead to the formation of groupings and allegiances, as this would not be in any country’s interests. Similarly, regional connectivity should be based on a peaceful, stable, rules-based regional and global order. Maritime security cooperation will be another vital pillar to ensure an integrated Indo-Pacific region with connected Indian and Pacific oceans.

Bilateral relations are the foundational pillars of larger regional cooperation. On the trajectory of India-Japan relations, for instance, it was pointed out that ties had really picked up pace in the past five years. India and Japan now needed to move even beyond a strategic partnership to a partnership of “fundamental relations” – driven by democracy, technology and people-to-people ties. Importantly, as India gears up for its G-20 Presidency, Japan will host the next G-7 Summit in Hiroshima in May 2023, which opens up many more avenues for cooperation.

Innovation-based economic growth in the Indo-Pacific was also discussed. Enabling small businesses to take advantage of the digital revolution, and expanding access to opportunities created by technology-enabled innovation emerged as key priority areas to ensure regional development. Trust-building among Indo-Pacific countries was emphasised as the foundation for digital cooperation and ICT-led development in the region.

The launch event saw the participation of experts from across the Indo-Pacific region, including Ichiro Fujisaki, former Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. and President of Nakasone Peace Institute, Japan; Lurong Chen, Senior Economist, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, Indonesia, and Stephen Ezell, Vice President, Global Innovation Policy, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, USA, among others. The launch event hosted by CUTS International had vibrant participation, with thirty-plus participants joining to hear experts deliberate on these issues.

With its headquarters in Jaipur, India, CUTS International has regional centres in Accra, Lusaka and Nairobi, covering West, Southern and East Africa. Besides them, it has centres in Hanoi, Geneva and Washington DC. In India, it has a regional centre in Kolkata, a rural development centre in Chittorgarh and a liaison office in New Delhi.

For more information, please contact:

Akshay Sharma, 91-9602337366, aks@cuts.org Sandra George, 91-9447995578, sge@cuts.org Vijay Singh, 91-80766-19084, vs1@cuts.org