President Jokowi: The Next Leader Should Have Courage to Carry Out Policies for Developing the Nation

President Jokowi meets Editors-in-Chief of national mass media, at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (08/10). (Photo: Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo mentioned that Indonesia needs a leader who have the courage to adopt the policies made to develop the nation, including industry downstreaming.

“In the future, I think this is not about who will be the president, but I think most importantly is the ability to be consistent to what we have started, because it takes courage,” President Jokowi said in the meeting with a number of Editors-in-Chief of national mass media, on Thursday (07/10), at Merdeka Palace.

President Jokowi deemed that courage and consistency are needed due to the increasing challenges and pressures faced by Indonesia.

“In the future, courage is needed because I think the pressures are getting more severe. Second, consistency. Consistency is needed to build endurance,” he said.

The Head of State also mentioned that a bold policy adopted by Indonesia, such as industry downstreaming, will encounter tough challenges that may bring impact to the national economy. So, consistency is needed to carry out the decided policy.

The President cited an example of the World Trade Organization ruled that the European Union won the lawsuit against Indonesia’s decision to stop exporting nickel ore.

“We will not stop despite the suit,” he affirmed.

Furthermore, President Jokowi expressed believe that if Indonesia is consistent in industry downstreaming in the upcoming years, then Indonesia can be a developed country.

“According to my calculation, if we can be consistent like this in 15 years, please check how much our income per capita will rise. I am sure it will be more than USD10,000. It means that Indonesia will be a developed country because the income per capita of a developed country usually is around USD11,000,” the President explained.

Accompanying President Jokowi during the meeting was Minister of State Secretary Pratikno. (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat/UN)(AW/LW)