"Infrastructure is the key to attracting investment, and will also reduce logistics costs," he said at the "Reflection and Notes on 10 Years of Jokowi's Government in the Field of Construction, Infrastructure, and Investment" event on Wednesday.
With infrastructure development, the national competitiveness level has risen from 34th to 27th globally, he pointed out.
"We aim for competitiveness from this development, besides, of course, the benefits of infrastructure for the people. We are now competing with other countries," he said.
According to President Jokowi, lack of connectivity and infrastructure leads to lack of investment.
He added that infrastructure development helped cut down logistics costs from 24 percent to 14 percent, resulting in reduced prices of goods.
"It is proven from the inflation figures as well. If previously our inflation (year on year) was 8 percent, 9 percent, even 11 percent, now it can be suppressed below 3 percent and last month, it was 2.58 percent," the head of state informed.
He said that since coming to office 10 years ago, his government has been focusing on infrastructure development to support connectivity, basic services, food supply, and industry.
He then advised the National Construction Implementation Association (Gapensi) to not only build concrete buildings, but also pay attention to aesthetics, beauty, landscape, and environmental aspects.
"I went to several regions in this country to review and inaugurate projects. I would definitely reprimand them if the landscape, aesthetics, and environmental aspect are lacking of quality. This is an important matter in the future," he emphasized.
He also asked Gapensi, as one of the largest construction service associations, to undertake quality construction works.
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Translator: Rangga Pandu A J, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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