Pluralism Gives Birth to Economic Advancement: President Jokowi Says

President Jokowi accompanied by Shinta N. Wahid, Quraish Shihab, and Umi Nurcholis Madjid in the opening of Meeting Point Forum, in Hotel Double Tree Hilton, Cikini, Jakarta, Tuesday (18/9). (Photo by: Jay/PR)

Acceptance of pluralism is the key to economic advancement, which is not solely determined by social or political issues, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said.

“Without acceptance of pluralism, our society will be closed-minded and undeveloped,” the President said in his remarks at the Opening of Titik Temu (Meeting Point) Forum held under the theme of Multicultural Cooperation for Oneness and Justice at Double Tree Hilton Hotel, Cikini, Jakarta, Tuesday (18/9).

For this reason, the President called on the public to revive the spirit of Unity in Diversity echoed by our founding fathers, who were proven to be able to manage diversity, to pave the way for the nation’s advancement, and to become a role model in caring for tolerance and unity.

The President also mentioned that in line with technological developments and economic growth, not only is information traffic increasing but people’s mobility has increased as well, adding that the people’s mobility between regions and between countries also continues to increase.

Better infrastructure and enhanced connectivity, he added, have also enabled the people to move from one place to another and from one country to another to travel, to work, and to do business for various periods of time.

The President also expressed belief that Indonesian society and the world community will be more diverse in the future, be it in terms of tribes, ethnicities, customs, cultures, or religions.

“Pluralism is not solely the result of inevitable development of times but is a necessity; it will make us richer in imagination to innovate. Pluralism makes us more mature. Thus, pluralism will become an inseparable part of an economic advancement,” said the President, adding that the success of a country, a region and a society will be largely determined by the degree of its acceptance to pluralism.

“Alhamdulillah praise be to God, we should be grateful that Indonesia is a diverse state since it was founded,” said the President.

For the record, the forum is a civil society-oriented cultural movement organized by the Nurcholish Madjid Society, the Gusdurian Network, and the Maarif Institute.

It was held in response to the recent development of political situation in the country. On that occasion, Declaration of the Titik Temu Forum was also read. (FID/JAY/ES)

Translated by: Muhardi

Edited by: M. Ersan Pamungkas