Obama Surprised to Hear Indonesia`s Intention to Join TPP

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) became the speaker and addressed a speech on the economic policy in Brookings Institution, a think-tank group in Washington DC, US.  In the occasion, Jokowi mentioned plenty of challenges in a reform, one of them is underdeveloped infrastructure.

Jokowi is ambitious to boost infrastructure development including in harbors, reservoirs and toll roads.  As a serious indication to reform the economy, Jokowi has announced Indonesia’s intention to join the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).  “President Obama was quite surprised to hear about it,” Jokowi said Wednesday, Oct. 28.

TPP is a trade pact among countries in Asia Pacific comprising 12 countries including US, Japan, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru and Vietnam.  Jokowi expressed his desire to join TPP during a press conference accompanied by US President Barack Obama.

Along with the infrastructure development, the government is also givining attention towards bureaucratic reform.  “Its to liberate private sectors whether domestic and impartial external policy, convoluted licensing process and misguided protectionism which is suffering companies and industries,” said Jokowi.

Jokowi is fully committed to rationalize and deregulate policies in his administration.  “Our deregulation program is a sustainable policy direction.  It will gain momentum and reach full speed in the next upcoming months.”

ALI HIDAYAT