President Jokowi Calls for Reforms in Immigration Services

President Jokowi accompanied by Vice President Ma’ruf Amin before leading a limited meeting on Visa on Arrival and limited stay permit (KITAS), at the Merdeka Palace, Friday (09/10). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Agung)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo called for total reforms in immigration services to ease the process and improve services.

The President said that the measures need to be taken in responding to many complaints related to immigration services from investors, tourists, and foreigners who want to apply for a limited stay permit (KITAS).

“What does it mean? What will it bring? Inconvenience. This must be reformed, totally. It must provide ease and service. It must be reformed. It must be reformed if we want investment and tourists come to the country,” he said in a limited meeting on Visa on Arrival and limited stay permit (Kitas), at the Merdeka Palace, Friday (09/10).

According to the President, we must consider the investment, potential job opportunity, and contribution to the national economy, and export value before granting visa or Kitas to the investors. He also added that a number of countries provide ease in the process of granting visa and stay permit to foreigners who have the economic capacity or expertise.

Therefore, he urged that the immigration services must prioritize the users and transform. He expressed belief both visa and Kitas for investors and foreign experts will bring positive impacts to Indonesia.

“We must start the reforms. Replace officials who do not have the ability to reform, replace them from the director general to the underlings. If we do not do that, we cannot undertake reform,” he firmly said. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/UN) (RAS/LW)