"We have also altered the orientation of development, which is no longer centered in Java but in Indonesia as a whole, starting from the outermost and the most backward regions," Jokowi remarked.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesias President Joko Widodo express belief that the nations foundation is strong enough to meet the challenges in 2016 in terms of budget policy, infrastructure growth, and country-centric development.
"In 2015, we have built a good and strong foundation," he stated while opening a plenary cabinet meeting at his office here on Wednesday.
With regard to the budget policy, he explained that the government had shifted the fuel oil subsidy to programs that directly benefit the people.
The government has also expedited infrastructure development, including of toll roads, railway lines, airports, and seaports, he added.
"We have also altered the orientation of development, which is no longer centered in Java but in Indonesia as a whole, starting from the outermost and the most backward regions," he remarked.
With such a strong foundation in place, he hoped Indonesia would progress faster and strive harder as the challenges in 2016 are more difficult compared to those encountered in 2015.
President Widodo affirmed that 2015 was a year full of challenges for Indonesia ranging from the global economic slowdown, the plummeting commodity prices, forest and peatland fires in various regions in the country, and depreciation of the countrys rupiah against the US dollar.
He stated that the global economy would not fully recover next year, and it would be a challenge in itself.
He, however, hoped that the economic slowdown would not worsen next year.
"We will also face an era of competition, and at the regional level, we are all aware that we will enter the era of the ASEAN Economic Community," he added.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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