"Indeed we cannot prohibit regional governments to deal with big businesses but we hope they would not deal only with them or prioritize them," Yudhoyono said.
Kuta, Bali (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on big businesses and regional governments to give bigger opportunities to local and new businesses to make them develop.

"Will new and young businesses win or lose when they compete with big businesses?. So for the established ones please compete with (the big ones) or abroad," he said in a keynote address at the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (Hipmi) meeting here on Wednesday.

Speaking on "the government`s policy towards local and startup businesses" the head of state said that he could only appeal in that respect because the government could not issue a regulation on the matter.

He said his appeal also applied to local governments. "Businesses worth less than Rp25 billion had better be given to young or start-up businesses," he said adding young and new businesses could become the country`s economic pillar in the future.

"Indeed we cannot prohibit regional governments to deal with big businesses but we hope they would not deal only with them or prioritize them," he said.

To young and new businessmen the President appealed to remain strong and optimistic to deal with their challenges.

He said only those who could overcome challenges would be successful in their fields.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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