Cabinet Secretary Urges Ambassadors to Promote Ease of Doing Business in Indonesia

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung gives directives to the Indonesian Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to friendly countries on Friday (2/3), at the Cabinet Secretary’s Office, Jakarta. (Photo by: Rahmat/Public Relations Division)

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung expects Indonesian Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to friendly countries as the representatives of the Government will not only perform diplomatic tasks but also help to boost investment from friendly countries to Indonesia and promote ease of doing business in Indonesia.

“Ambassadors, consul generals, consuls, and trade attachés should enhance diplomacy, and economic intelligence, so they can serve as the cutting edge of promotion, open investment opportunities, and seek for export opportunities that Indonesia can take,” Pramono said in a directive for the Indonesian Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to friendly countries on Friday (2/3), at the Cabinet Secretary’s Office, Jakarta.

On that occasion, Pramono also said that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo wants the economic growth to increase from 2018 onwards. He added that the President always mentions two points that must be improved so the Indonesia’s economic growth can increase above the current figure, namely investment and export.

“Lately, the President wants to improve three things. The first one is permit for migrant workers, which will be related to the Ambassadors. The second thing is single submission including for Trade Business License (SIUP), Company Registration Certificates (TDP), and others. The last one is relating with investment incentives,” Pramono explained.

Pramono believes if those three things can be improved immediately and be launched in March, it can bring significant impacts to the economic growth.

According to the Cabinet Secretary, the economic growth can increase more significantly not because the performance is improved but because the (price of) commodities that is increased. “If the (price of) commodities such as coal, palm oil, and others is increased, it will boost economic growth by 0.3 to 0.4 point,” Pramono added.

Thus, if our economic growth increases to 5.4 in 2018, it is still not a great achievement, Pramono said.

For that reason, Cabinet Secretary urged related parties to do some improvement so that the economic growth can increase to 6 percent.

“The President specifically pays attention to the economy,” Pramono firmly said.

Pramono also said that economic diplomacy should be intensified to the utmost by considering non-traditional markets in Pakistan and African countries with good economic growth.

On that occasion, Pramono asserted that Indonesia is looking for support for its nomination as a non- permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2019-2020. Therefore, Pramono expected the Indonesian Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to friendly countries to play active role in seeking support for Indonesia’s re-election as a non- permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2019-2020 from the friendly countries, as mandated in Preamble of the 1945 Constitution.

Regarding Indonesia preparation to host the 2018 Asian Games and IMF – World Bank Annual Meeting, Pramono hopes the Ambassadors support the organization of the events.

Joining the meeting were Deputy Cabinet Secretary Ratih Nurdiati, Deputy to the Cabinet Secretary for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Fadlansyah Lubis, Deputy to the Cabinet Secretary Cabinet Secretary for Cabinet Work Support Yuli Harsono, Special Staff and Expert Staff to the Cabinet Secretary.  (DNA/RAH/ES) (RAS/EP/Naster)