Indonesian Government Joins Forces with THE to Host Pivotal Global Sustainability Congress as Southeast Asia Takes Centre Stage

25 March, 2026: JAKARTA, Indonesia – In a landmark development for the region, the Government of Indonesia, through the Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS), has officially joined as a co-host for the Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) 2026.

This partnership transforms the Jakarta-based Congress from a summit of ideas into a global decision-making hub. With the Government of Indonesia at the heart alongside the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), the 2026 event will serve as the primary platform where national policy meets global innovation to drive the next chapter of the SDGs.

"As Indonesia leads the regional charge toward a resilient future, we are proud to host a platform that reflects the true complexity of the SDGs. Sustainability cannot be achieved by any one sector in isolation; it requires a unified front of policymakers, global CEOs, academic researchers, and NGOs. By convening this powerful coalition in Jakarta, we are bridging the gap between strategic intent and real-world implementation. This partnership ensures that the solutions forged here have the political weight, the financial backing, and the community-level trust required to transform global goals into local realities”, said Rachmat Pambudy, Minister of National Development Planning, the Republic of Indonesia.

Yemi Adeshiyan, Managing Director of the GSDC, said, "The partnership of the Indonesian Government as a co-host is a catalyst for the region. By anchoring the Congress in Southeast Asia and working directly with the machinery of national planning, we are ensuring that the solutions forged in Jakarta have the political and strategic weight to influence the global 2030 Agenda. This partnership bridges the gap between global academic expertise and real-world state implementation."

The Inaugural Asia-Pacific Business Summit: Bridging Policy and Profit

A defining feature of the 2026 program is the launch of the inaugural Asia-Pacific Sustainable Business Summit. Running alongside the main Congress, this high-level forum addresses the priorities shaping sustainable business across the Asia-Pacific region, from energy transition and finance to supply chains, circularity, digital infrastructure and workforce capability. Participating businesses include; Coco-Cola, TikTok and IBM along with the European Investment Bank, Danantara Indonesia and the UN Global Compact.

Leadership in Education and Philanthropy

The Congress will feature a concentration of decision-makers including regional Ministers of Education and Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, founder and chairman of the Sunway Group, whose philanthropic commitment to quality education is a cornerstone of the regional SDG movement.

Speaking on the event Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah said, “Quality education and sustainable development are the twin pillars of a resilient future. The GSDC provides a vital nexus where academia, government, and the private sector move beyond ambition into measurable action. It is an honour for me and Sunway University to contribute to this movement as we empower the next generation."

The 2026 Global Agenda

From 22–25 June 2026,the main Congress and the Asia-Pacific Sustainable Business Summit will bring together 5,000 leaders to tackle six transformative pillars; Cities and Communities, Education gender and inequality, Environment, Circular economy and materials, Decarbonisation and Energy, Supply chains and resources.

The event will also feature the live global reveal of THE’s Impact Ratings 2026, the world’s premier framework for measuring university contributions to the UN SDGs.

ENDS

For more information and to book tickets to the Global Sustainable Development Congress visit Home | Global Sustainable Development Congress 2026.