President: Trade in Rupiah To Strengthen National Economy

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo states the obligation to use dollars for transactions in the country are aimed to boost the national economy through a fundamental transformation.

"This step is to show that we are a sovereign state," the President said when delivering the State Address on the 70th Independence Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia before the Joint Session of the Parliament and Regional Representatives Council (DPD-RI) on Friday, August 14.

The President also mentioned economic transformation requires a strong support from other sectors such as foreign policy, defense and security, law enforcement and respect for human rights.

"Without the synergy of these fields, the order of the nation and state will not be established," he said at a Joint Session led by DPD-RI Chairman Irman Gusman.

On that occasion, the President also invited the people of Indonesia to no longer turn their backs on the ocean and sea. The vast stretch of sea has economic potential, defense potential and the potential for unity.

Indonesian marine environment is threatened by climate change and need to be saved and protected from security threats such as illegal fishing and marine resources looting.

"The ships that were caught must face our firmness, including the being sunk. International law is also against illegal fishing and marine resources looting," he said.

He mentioned one of the most important agenda is to realize the ‘sea toll way’. The express marine way will be part of the maritime infrastructure and will be equipped with productive shipyards. The policy will encourage continuous improvement of the maritime economy, preservation of the sea, and good marine spatial planning.

"Along with that, we also have to dig more maritime culture and maritime identity of the Indonesian nation. We must be able to demonstrate to the world that Indonesia is a maritime nation," he said.

According to the President, Indonesia must be a nation that maintain and utilize marine resources earnestly.

"That's the first part of our efforts to become World Maritime Axis. A Maritime Axis which not only initiated to create a national defense but also regional and global resistance. This strategy is being drafted and will be poured into Indonesia's National Marine Policy," he said.

ANTARA