President Jokowi: Let us Remain Optimistic
President Joko Jokowi Widodo said that Indonesia’s economic growth rate in 2016 was at 5.02 percent or ranked 3 amongst the G-20 member countries. Meanwhile, the inflation rate was just 3.02 percent, or lower than that of in 2015 by 3.35 percent. Moreover, the 2017 State Budget (APBN) is Rp2,080 trillion. “If we look at the figures, we should all be optimistic that year after year it would be better. So do not let anyone be pessimistic, especially in the regional, national, and international fora,” President Jokowi said when delivering a speech at the 2017 Working Meeting of the Ministry of Trade, at the State Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (21/2) morning.
President Jokowi admitted that economic growth of other countries plummeted. The world economic growth is also slowing down. However, when looking at the figures achieved by Indonesia, President Jokowi said he does not have a sense of pessimism. Therefore, he asked his ministers to be optimistic in carrying out their job. “Let us keep optimistic, optimistic that is realistic, based on objective circumstances and calculations,” the President said.
To that end, President Jokowi invited all ranks be it business players or the Government to work together to seek a breakthrough. Particularly those in the Government, in the bureaucracy, in the ministries, it becomes imperative to seek new breakthroughs.
The President reminded the ranks of Government not to work in the ways that are monotonous. Find ways that are not linear. “Those breakthroughs should be applied anywhere. Everything must transform into the digital world be it in the offices or the Directorate General. There is no other way because we want to serve anyone promptly,” the President further said.
The President requested that the public, customers, industries, entrepreneurs, as well as Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) be served promptly. “Everything should lead to it. If Indonesia does not implement it immediately, we will lag far behind,” the President said.
According to the President, we no longer can use the same linear ways. “We compete as quickly as possible in all aspects, be it in deciding or serving, everything. Because once again, today’s world competition map has changed very radically. If we still act just like the other day, we will lag far behind, let alone those who stay in the comfort zone, I am sure we will lag far behind,” the President said.
On that occasion, President Jokowi also reminded the ranks at the Ministry of Trade that they are held accountable for the 250 million people in Indonesia. Therefore, all policies that exist both in the Ministry, in the Directorate General should lead to it. The President also reminded all that in executing tasks in the office, it is now done with the calculations, in detail, not theoretical. He believes that if we perform this, our country will tread on a process. Later on, by 2045 – 100 years of Indonesian independence – where our population will reach 310 million more or less. “For the last three months, I have asked the Minister of Finance to calculate our GDP in 2045. We work not just for today or next year. We must also understand our GDP in the future. Our GDP will be USD9.1 trillion,” the President said.
President Jokowi is upbeat that if we work in ways as he suggested then we can achieve an income of USD29,000 per capita. “We must be optimistic to achieve this, but in ways that I have said,” the President firmly said. Therefore, President Jokowi asked all parties at the Ministry of Trade, particularly those overseeing domestic affairs and staple foods to continue monitor them per days, hours, or seconds, if necessary.
To that, the President added, the system needs to be built. He mentioned the application that can inform you from markets in the regions to the center. “Build the systems immediately so that the stock will always be seen. If there is turbulence, one month, two months, three months earlier we can already forecast it so that it can be anticipated. Not after a new incident happens and then we get panic. Considering food availability has to do with the price stability,” the President said.
The opening of the 2017 Working Meeting of the Ministry of Trade was attended by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi, and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian. (DND/JAY/ES) (MUR/YM/Naster).