"Do not let political affairs in 2024 disturb our economic stability because once it is affected, it will be difficult to return it to normal," the head of state noted at the Opening of the National Independence Network Meeting accessed from Jakarta on Tuesday.
Jokowi reminded that if domestic economic stability is disrupted amid a difficult global situation, then recovery efforts will be hindered by several obstacles.
Hence, he advised all parties to prioritize performance in developing the domestic economy without harboring concerns over the 2024 election.
The president also pointed out that currently, all countries are in an unsafe condition. Developed countries, such as the United States, and countries in Europe are also in a difficult position, both in achieving economic growth and controlling the prices of goods to anchor inflation.
"All prices are soaring now," he remarked.
In fact, Jokowi drew attention to one country in Europe that had experienced an up to 700-percent increase in the prices of energy commodities, such as gas, electricity, and gasoline.
The president then compared it to a slight increase in energy prices in Indonesia that could provoke large protests.
“Imagine a 700-percent increase. In Indonesia, an increase of 10-15 percent could trigger a three-month protest. Food prices have also doubled," he stated.
However, Jokowi highlighted that Indonesia can still maintain inflation at around 3.1 percent and economic growth of 5.17 percent in the second quarter of 2023. This achievement has brought Indonesia to rank among the top three in the world.
"Our economy in the second quarter still grew 5.17 percent, including in the world's three best. Countries with good economies are members of G20, namely Indonesia, India, and China. Other countries have very bad economic conditions. The world is full of challenges, whether it is a food crisis, energy crisis, or geopolitics conflict," he stated.
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Translator: Indra Arief P, Resinta S
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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