President Jokowi Hosts World Bank President

President Jokowi, accompanied by a number of ministers, hosts President of the World Bank Jim Yong Kim and his delegates at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (26/7). (Photo by: Public Relations Division/Deni)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo (Jokowi), accompanied by a number of ministers of the Working Cabinet, hosted President of the World Bank Jim Yong Kim and his delegates at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (26/7).

On that occasion, President Jokowi expressed his appreciation for the partnership so has been made so far between the World Bank and the Indonesian Government.  The President also conveyed his appreciation to the World Bank that has opened its representative office in Indonesia, that is one of the biggest World Bank representative offices besides its headquarter office in Washington DC in the US.

“I am glad you can enjoy and admire your very big office that actively operates in Indonesia,” the President said.

President Jokowi also said the World Bank has assisted Indonesia in improving the structure and quality of Indonesia’s fiscal spending. In addition, the World Bank also continues to be committed to supporting Indonesia in reducing poverty rate as well as improving the quality of health and education services in the country.

President Jokowi considered that the World Bank and the Indonesian Government are doing important tasks of eradicating poverty, making investment for human development such as improving education services, as well as tackling the impacts of climate change.

“We are glad that last year, the World Bank raised our Ease of Doing Business (EODB) index from 106 into 91. I know you are here to say that this year the World Bank will raise Indonesia’s index,” the President said.

Other World Bank delegates attending the meeting were World Bank Country Director for Indonesia and Timor Leste Rodrigo Chaves, Vice President for the East Asia and the Pacific Victoria Kwakwa, IFC Regional Director Vivek Pathak, IFC Country Manager Azam Khan, World Bank Indonesia Operations Manager Rolande Pryce, and World Bank Group Special Assistant/Advisor President Aurelie Chardon, while President Jokowi was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for the Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, and Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Bambang Brodjonegoro. (FID/DNS/ES) (EP/YM/Naster)