TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said that he had not satisfied yet with 13 economic policy packages that he issued to boost the economic growth. According to President Jokowi, business owners in Indonesia must pay a close attention to competition and openness.
"It turns out that our people are motivated with competitors," President Jokowi said during a national dialog event held by the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (ISHI) in Jakarta on Friday, August 26, 2016.
President Jokowi added that competition was important in business to improve the quality of products and services.
"Pertamina's gas stations in 1970 were awful. Given a competition, they were upgraded. That's how it works," Jokowi said.
In order to be competitive, President Jokowi called on business owners to be actively involved in boosting the economic growth, by taking parts in infrastructure projects developed by state-owned companies.
Jokowi added that the government would continue to improve the business climate in a bid to support investors, for example by simplifying permit procedures.
ISHI chairman Oesman Sapta appreciated programs crafted by President Jokowi's administration. However, Oesman revealed that the manufacturing sector had not provided a significant contribution yet. Oesman called on the government to focus on developing the manufacturing sector.
Oesman added that four sectors worth developing were agriculture or food, maritime, tourism and creative industry.
"Not all sectors can be taken over by the government," Oesman said.
ADITYA BUDIMAN
