In the future, it is not the big countries beating small countries, not rich countries beating poor countries. The competition is that a fast country will defeat a slow country, and to be fast, it needs these foundations that we are working onJakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has identified infrastructure, downstreaming and industrialization, and digitalization as the three foundations for boosting Indonesia's competitiveness.
"In the future, it is not the big countries beating small countries, not rich countries beating poor countries. The competition is that a fast country will defeat a slow country, and to be fast, it needs these foundations that we are working on," he remarked at the “National Gathering of National Retired Army Association 2022” in Sentul, West Java, on Friday.
The effects of infrastructure development will not be felt instantly, but in the next five to ten years, the President said.
"In the past seven years, we have added 2,042 kilometers of toll roads, 5,500 km of non-toll roads, 15 new airports, 18 new ports, 38 new dams, and 1.1 million hectares of new irrigation. This is our foundation for competing with other countries," he informed.
Related news: Pos Indonesia expands services to nickel transportation
He said that Indonesia "did not dare" to carry out downstreaming and industrialization for a long time.
Since the VOC era of the Dutch East Indies, exports were always carried out in the form of raw materials, and the industrialization foundation was seldomly prepared, he noted.
"We exported nickel for many years; its value was US$1.1 billion (around Rp15 trillion) in 2014. Once we stopped it in 2017, the exports in 2021 reached more than Rp300 trillion. From Rp15 trillion jumping to Rp300 trillion—that is only one commodity," he highlighted.
The government is not intimidated by the lawsuit filed by the European Union (EU) with the World Trade Organization (WTO) in response to the discontinuation of exports of some raw materials such as tin, bauxite, and copper, he stressed.
Related news: Government plans to build football training center in IKN Nusantara
"(Exports of) copper have been stopped, bauxite have been stopped; this is what will contribute to our economy and create as many jobs as possible," the President added.
Furthermore, Widodo said that small, micro, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) must gather the courage to enter the digital platform.
"There are 65.4 million MSMEs that contribute 61 percent to our economic growth. Do not forget these small ones, thus, we continue to encourage them to enter the digital ecosystem, which will be the strong foundation of the Indonesian economy," he remarked.
Related news: Concerning state of global economy due to inflation: President
Related news: President Jokowi acknowledges inadequate pension for retirees
Translator: Gilang G, Kenzu T
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
