"We still need 1.7 to 1.8 million, or even up to 5.8 million entrepreneurs more to reach four percent," Jokowi stated.Bandung, W Java (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) believes that Indonesia still needs millions of new entrepreneurs to be able to reach two to five percent of the countrys total population.
"We still need 1.7 to 1.8 million, or even up to 5.8 million entrepreneurs more to reach four percent," Jokowi stated in his opening remarks at the Jamboree of the Young Indonesian Entrepreneurs Association of ASEAN universities here on Monday.
The number of entrepreneurs in Indonesia currently only reaches some 1.6 percent of its total population; while in ASEAN, the figure averages at four percent; Singapore, at seven percent; Malaysia, at six percent; Thailand, five percent; and Vietnam, three percent.
Meanwhile, Singapore still holds the highest global competitiveness index among ASEAN member countries at 5.68 percent; Malaysia, 5.23 percent; Thailand, 4.64 percent; and Indonesia, 4.52 percent.
Indonesia needs to bring about several changes to improve its global competitiveness index, he pointed out.
Regarding the ease of doing business index, Indonesia is ranked 109th, compared to 120th last year.
Singapore topped the list, with Malaysia standing 18th, Thailand coming 49th, and Vietnam at the 90th position.
Jokowi called on the concerned officials to make significant improvements in various areas to boost the ranking to 40th position.
"For boosting our competitiveness, we have to move ahead dynamically. We have pushed the deregulation packages. We do not delay infrastructure projects either in Java or several more outside Java," the president added.
Better infrastructure will improve our competitiveness and reduce logistics costs.
"The change we need to bring about is to open wider opportunities for the younger generation to do business," he affirmed.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
