“Amid Global Economic Slowdown, Indonesia’s Economy Will Improve,” the President Says

President Jokowi meets several economists on Thursday (22/9), at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta

Although several international institutions including International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have predicted that the world still suffers from economic slowdown, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that there are opportunities to maintain Indonesia’s economic growth.

President Jokowi, in the meeting with several economists, analysts, and representatives of business associations on Tuesday (22/9), at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, told that from all of heads of states participating in the G20 Summit, in Hangzhou, China, several weeks ago, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi was the most optimistic person on the economic growth of his country.

“I want to emphasize the point. If  India is optimistic why we aren’t (optimistic). However, we also need to improve our system. Unless, we will be left behind,” the President said.

Therefore, though national economy is very affected by the development of the world economy, in which the commodity prices are still not improved and there is no clear direction on the uncertainty of financial policies, the President is still optimistic that there are still opportunities which we can take to maintain the economic growth.

“Indonesia indeed depends on the State Budget (APBN) to stimulate its economic growth, but I also want massive investments to flow in,” President Jokowi added.

According to the President, during his working visits to several countries, he noticed the lack of capital inflows is caused by the problems and obstacles in investment. “In fact, we have tried to solve the problems,” the President concluded.

(BPMI/ES)(RAS/MMB/YM/Naster)