Current President Joko Widodo is a former furniture trader while Jusuf Kalla and several ministers have also been known as businesspersons.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla has claimed that the present government is the most knowledgeable when it comes to business because many of its officials belong to business communities.

"If there is anyone who knows business well, it is the current government," he stated while opening the national leadership meeting of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) here on Monday.

Current President Joko Widodo is a former furniture trader while Jusuf Kalla and several ministers have also been known as businesspersons.

There are so many businesspersons in the present government that if something goes wrong in the country, it will be the "fault" of businesspersons, he said jokingly.

He appealed to businesspeople to work hard so they can create as many jobs as possible and that will help improve the countrys economy and peoples welfare.

"The era of expecting from the government has been over; so now, it will all depend upon businesses," he noted.

Kadins general chairman Suryo Bambang Sulisto remarked that the current leadership meeting has gained momentum with the recent regime change.

According to him, the change of regime has brought fundamental and structural reforms to the countrys efforts for economic development.

Hence, he pointed out, Kadin needed to re-orientate its role to become the governments partner by adapting its role to the governments development plan that will start from regions and peripheries.

He observed that one of the ways to do it was by helping strengthen micro-, small, and medium-scale businesses more quickly and firmly because with their number reaching 60 millions, they contribute to 57 percent of the GDP and are able to accommodate up to around 100 million workforce.

He stressed that Kadin also hoped that the government will eliminate obstacles that have so far hindered the integration of business communities with regional governments.

"Businesses are not mere entities that seek profits but are also responsible for the publics welfare," he said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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