He made the call at the 18th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit at National Convention Center in Vietiane, Laos, on Wednesday.
He said based on evidence micro-, small and medium businesses in ASEAN and the Republic of Korea have been able to absorb almost 90 percent of workforce and contributed around 50 percent of their gross domestic products.
"I invite ASEAN and the Republic of Korea to increase the productivity and capability of micro-, small and medium businesses by strengthening innovation and technological implementation," he said, according to a press release from the presidential palace.
He said micro, small and medium businesses also needed strong competitive power so that they could compete with other businesses.
In view of that ASEAN and the Republic of Korea had to cooperate and exchange information that could bring a positive impact on the businesses.
"Access to research and development of the micro-, small and medium businesses must be increased and cooperation with the government as well as businesses to improve their entrepreneurship," he said.
Social and cultural cooperation through people-to-people contacts will also affect economic cooperation in the region and could develop mutual understanding and contribute to ASEAN and the Republic of Korea.
"People-to-people contacts are key to strengthening social and cultural cooperation between ASEAN and the Republic of Korea," he said.
President Joko Widodo said there had been positive development in the creative economic industries in ASEAN and the Republic of Korea with regard to their high economic potential and contribution to increasing the number of tourists to the two regions.
"The potential reaches around US$26 billion in the Republic of Korea and US$50 billion in ASEAN and seven million people exchange visits in 2015," he said.
President Joko Widodo appealed to ASEAN and the Republic of Korea to support the establishment of ASEAN Culture House in Busan in 2017 to boost cooperation between ASEAN and the Republic of Korea.
"We need to continue to boost cooperation between ASEAN and the Republic of Korea by increasing exchange of peoples and youths in the field of transfer of knowledge of creative economy and the establishment of ASEAN Culture House in Busan in 2017," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
