Indonesia Now Among Group of Countries With Economies Above $1 Trillion: President Jokowi

President Jokowi accompanied by Industry Minister and Health Minister inaugurate Medicine Raw Materials and Biological Product Plant of PT Kalbio Global Medika–Kalbe Group at Delta Silikon 3 Industrial Zone, Lippo Cikarang, Bekasi, West Java, Tuesday (27/2). (Photo by: Rahmat/Public Relations Division)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Wododo said many are not aware that Indonesia is not only a member G-20 countries but among in a group of countries with economies above $1 trillion.

“Our gross domestic product is 1 USD trillion per year and we will become a country with economy of above $1 trillion although our GDP is the 16^th biggest in the world.  Once again, this is something that we have to grateful for. It means, our GDP is very big. Keep that in mind,” said President said in his remarks at the inauguration of Medicine Raw Materials and Biological Product Plant of PT Kalbio Global Medika–Kalbe Group at Delta Silikon 3 Industrial Zone, Lippo Cikarang, Bekasi, West Java, Tuesday (27/2).

President Jokowi added that if Indonesia’s economic growth continues to above 5% – 6% per year, the country’s economy will post a double growth.

“This what people often forget. In fact, our economy growth has doubled in the next fourteen years more or less. It means our country will become a country with the economy of above 1 USD trillion USD in 2032 at the latest,” the President said.

However, the President added, many people do not have these calculations.

The President even said that a prominent international consultant projected that by using PPP/Purchasing Power Parity method, in 2030, Indonesia will become the world’s 5 largest economy in the world.

“We often forget these things,” the President said.

However, President Jokowi reminded that once Indonesia has entered top 16, or top 10 or top 5, Indonesia will be different from what it is today because every time a country moves to a higher rank, things will be different. Therefore, President Jokowi called on the people not to be trapped in matters that cause many people to become pessimistic because the figures above are very clear.

In the health sector, according to the President, a society that generates economic activities worth US$2 trillion per yea, their needs, hopes and expectations will be very different from what they are today.

The President cited an example of many people who suffer from diseases due to infections. However, President Jokowi said that as the economy grows and more people become middle-class people, a common issue is hygiene, while nutrition, and health will be better, but ‘lifestyle diseases’ will be more common.

“Lifestyle diseases, just like Health Minister says, such as diabetes is because people only want to eat delicious food. They also suffer from high-blood pressure because after they get rich, they like to get angry easily. Other lifestyle diseases include heart problems or cancer,” the President said.

In addition, the President added, people’s expectations are also relate to the Government’s policies and those who might previously easily surrender to their fates, in the future they will demand more and will become more proactive in curing their diseases and reject to be given ordinary medicines. Therefore, President Jokowi welcome the initiative of Kalbe Group to build  medicine raw materials of medicine plant based on biotechnology. The President wants that all pharmaceutical industries players to be engaged in this sector by making investment as quickly as possible.

Also attending the event were Minister of Health T Nila F. Moeloek and Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto. (FID/RAH/ES) (EP/YM/Naster)