To emerge as winners in the competition, we must have the conviction to come out of our comfort zone."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has lauded several state institutions for their support and performance and has urged them to establish synergy and pursue self-improvement.

In his State of the Nation Address at the annual session of the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR) at the parliament building here on Tuesday, the president expressed gratitude to all sides for their cooperation to assist the government in implementing the peoples mandate.

"The mutual help, solidity, and sound cooperation we have established, so far, have helped our efforts to implement the peoples mandate smoothly," he remarked.

The head of state further reminded the audience of the tough global competition that the Indonesian nation was facing.

"To emerge as winners in the competition, we must have the conviction to come out of our comfort zone. We must be creative and optimistic as well as work hand in hand and make breakthroughs," he emphasized.

Poverty, unemployment, and social gap were among the main issues that the president highlighted in his state address.

The president stressed that breakthroughs, swift efforts, and strong and effective state institutions were the nations assets to dealing with the issues.

For its part, the president lauded the MPR for its inputs in assessing the long-term national development planning system.

"In the current era of global competition, we hope the assessment will be able to support the development planning system in a more integrated, future-oriented, and sustainable manner," he emphasized.

The president also praised the House of Representatives (DPR) for its performance.

The DPR, along with the government, has this year formulated 10 bills to be passed into laws, he said.

In running its legislative functions, the president pointed out that the most important aspect was not how many bills were being passed into law, but their quality and how beneficial they were for the people.

These include the Law on Public Housing Savings, Law on Tax Amnesty to boost sources of state revenue, and Law on Protection and Empowerment of Fishermen, Fish Farming, and Salt Farmers.

"The Law on Protection and Empowerment of Fishermen, Fish Farming, and Salt Farmers is part of the governments efforts to improve the welfare of fishermen in the maritime sector," the head of state remarked.

(Reported by Hanni Sofia Soepardi/Uu.INE/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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