President Jokowi Instructs Ministers To Stay Focus During Political Year

Jokowi gives directives on a Plenary Cabinet Meeting at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (3/1)

Even though 2018 is a political year, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo called on all Working Cabinet ministers to keep stay focus on their tasks, particularly the tasks to increase economic growth, address social gap, and reduce poverty rate.

The statement was made by President Jokowi when he, accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, led the first Plenary Cabinet Meeting for 2018 Fiscal Year at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (3/1).

The President reminded all that international trust to Indonesia is rising considering the Government has made a number of achievements, such as permit reform, de-regulation, and improvement in ease of doing business.

“We already know that Fitch Ratings upgrades Indonesia’s ranking from BBB- to BBB/Stable Outlook,” President Jokowi said.

According to the President, the main factor of that upgrade is efforts made by the Indonesian Government to keep improving the resilience of economies to shocks, including external shocks. We are also able to maintain the stability.“What we have done last year should be improved in 2018,” the President added.

Regarding the efforts to alleviate poverty and social gap, the National Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded that the number of people living in poverty in September 2017 reached 26.58 million people or 10.12 percent of the population. The figure decreased by 0.52 percent compared to the result in March 2017, which reached 27.77 million people.

“The figure is also lower compared to the figure in September 2015 that reached 11.13 percent and in September 2016 that reached 10.70 percent,” the President added.

However, President Jokowi asserted that the Government still needs to carry on the task to reduce poverty gap index, and poverty severity index both in rural and urban areas.

Also on that occasion, President Jokowi reminded all that inflation rate and staple food price stability should be managed. The President also hopes that Rice for Prosperity Food Subsidy (Rastra), a Non-Cash Food Subsidy that is planned to be distributed earlier this year can be allocated in a timely manner to the right target.

The President also instructed Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Marine and Fisheries Affairs to immediately implement Cash for Work program through the Village Fund or labour intensive program.

“I just received a report from the Minister of Finance that 20 percent of Village Fund to be disbursed in January. The fund should be immediately used to support Cash for Work program,” President Jokowi added.

Also attending the Plenary Cabinet Meeting were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya, Minister of Defence Ryamizard Ryacudu, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of National Development Planning (PPN)/Head of National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Bambang Brodjonegoro, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Eko Putro Sandjojo, Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita, Minister of Health Nila F. Moeloek, Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi, Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education M. Nasir, Minister of Communication and Information Technology Rudiantara, Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reforms Asman Abnur, Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) Commander Hadi Tjahjanto, Indonesian National Police (Polri) Chief Tito Karnavian, and Attorney General Prasetyo. (FID/JAY/ES) (RAS/MMB/YM/Naster)