Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the establishment of the National Industry and Economic Committee (KEIN) is expected to help present a more detailed picture of industrial development planning.

"Although we already have a roadmap of economic and industrial development, KEIN will provide further data and better ways of planning," President Jokowi said after receiving the organizing committee of the 2016 National Press Day Commemoration here on Wednesday.

He said the members of KEIN included economic players, academicians and business leaders.

"The combination will enable us to work out details on development planning for short, middle and long-term developmental process. I have asked for plans that lay a roadmap for the next 50 to 100 years so that we have certain guidelines that help us direct our objectives," the president said.

He said that short-term plan must be put in place because the government was doing its best to create as many jobs as possible.

On the reason why Soetrisno Bachir has been appointed the KEIN chairman, Jokowi suggested to pose this question to all those who selected him.

"Possibly, Soetrisno was named because he was considered the most able to serve as a bridge among the academicians, businessmen and industrial players," he said.

The president also explained the difference between KEIN and the National Economic Committee (KEN). The head of state explained KEINs prime focus was development of downstream industry and the industrialization program which would provide back-up for economic growth.

"Raw materials should contribute to the efforts to enhance value addition," he said.

Earlier, President Jokowi installed KEINs executives , including the chairman, deputy chairman, secretary and members, at the State Palace on Wednesday morning.

Jokowi installed Soetrisno Bachir as the institutions chairman, Arif Budimanta as deputy chairman, Putri Wardani as the secretary and 17 other members.

The 17 members are Hendri Saparini, Hariyadi Sukamdani, Eddy Sariatmadja, Sudhamek, Jhonny Darmawan, Benny Soetrisno, Mohamad Fadhil Hasan, Benny Pasaribu, Sonny Budi Harsono, Aries Muftie, Muhammad Safii Antonio, M. Najikh, Andri BS Sudibyo, Zulnahar Usman, Irfan Wahid, Donny Oskaria and Ugiarto Alim.

Before the installation of KEINs executives, the President also installed Nazir Foead as the head of the National Peatland Restoration Agency.

Among those who attended the inauguration events were Vice President M Jusuf Kalla, Chief Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut B Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution and Coordinating Minister for Human Development Puan Maharani.

Minister of Industry Saleh Husin, Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Edy Saefuddin, Minister for State Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Yuddy Chrisnandi, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya, chairman of Presidential Advisory Council Sri Adiningsih, Speaker of the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hasan and House Speaker Ade Komaruddin also attended the inauguration.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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