President Jokowi Pushes for Strengthening of Public-Private Partnership in ASEAN

President Jokowi joins ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting with ASEAN-BAC at Sokha hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday (11/10) (Photo by: PR of BPMI Presidential Secretariat/Muchlis Jr).

The economies of ASEAN countries recorded a positive growth amid global crisis; however, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Thursday (11/10) reminded all ASEAN countries to stay alert.

The statement was made by the President during ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting with ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) at Sokha hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

“The total GDP of ASEAN countries reached above USD3 trillion, placing ASEAN as the fifth largest economy in the world. Amid the financial crisis, we have to stay alert. Partnership between business sector and the Government must be strengthened. Private sectors also play an important role,” President Jokowi said.

On short-term issues, President Jokowi also pushed for ASEAN’s economic resilience, saying ASEAN must take countermeasures and develop adaptive macroprudential policy to stabilize economy and stimulate economic growth.

“Private sectors must be forward-looking. They must have a sense of crisis, be prudent, be able to make swift adaption. Indeed, swift, accurate adaption serve as key for ASEAN’s economic resilience,” the President added.

On long-term issues, President Jokowi underscored the importance of boosting ASEAN competitiveness.

“Innovation enables us to be more competitive in the future. Digital economy and green economy are ASEAN’s future. Digital economy will boost productivity and expand market access, while green economy will push ASEAN to keep growing and to be sustainable.” the President said.

President Jokowi further said that MSMEs also play a significant role for ASEAN’s economy giventhat around 90 percent of business sector in the region are MSMEs.

To that end, concrete synergy among ASEAN countries is required, he added.  (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/UN) (AP/HD/EP)