Indonesia Wants to Achieve Equitable Prosperity for All: President Jokowi

Photo caption: Several ministers attend a limited cabinet meeting at Bogor Presidential Palace, Bogor, West Java, Tuesday (31/1) sore. (Photo: Public Relations Division /Deni)

Prosperity that Indonesia wants to achieve is not for an individual or a group, but a just prosperity for all Indonesians, President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo has said.

“This is a big challenge that we are facing. Since Indonesia gained her independence until today, we continue to fight for this (a just prosperity for the people),” President Jokowi said in his introductory remarks at a limited cabinet meeting on the Policies of Equitable Economy at Bogor Presidential Palace, Bogor, West Java, Tuesday (31/1).

President Jokowi went on to say that there are three main prerequisites to reach common prosperity, namely favoring interests of the people, joint efforts with the spirit of unity and gotong royong (mutual cooperation), and making efforts to reach equitable prosperity that must be inclusive, regardless of the people’s ethnicity, religion, race, or group. “All citizens without exception must have the same opportunities,” the President said.

President Jokowi said in December last year, he instructed Coordinating Minister for the Economy to study a comprehensive policy to address socio-economic gap that has happened so far.

“Although we know that the level of social and economic gap has improved since 2015, or if its measured by Gini ratio has dropped from 0.41 into 0.39, we still need to take measures to further reduce the gap,” the President said.

The Limited Cabinet Meeting was also attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) Bambang Brodjonegoro, Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of the Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya, Minister of Trade Engartiasto Lukita, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (BPN) Sofyan Jalil, Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti, and Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya. (RMI/DND/SM/DNS/ES) (EP/YM/Naster)