"Looking at the social and economic capital that we have, an opportunity for Indonesia to become a developed and prosperous country is actually wide open," President Jokowi stated.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is likely to become a developed and prosperous nation based on its own social and economic capital, according to Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

"Looking at the social and economic capital that we have, an opportunity for Indonesia to become a developed and prosperous country is actually wide open," President Jokowi stated during the Houses plenary session in the 2015 Annual Session, here, Friday.

The president remarked that Indonesia has a vast population and a creative, growing middle class, democratic political system, and a moderate Muslim society. The country has also become the 16th economic power in the world, with a gross domestic product of about Rp10 thousand trillion.

"With hard work, optimism, and bringing about a positive change in the consumers mindset, we will be able to uphold our dignity among the nations of the world," the president noted in a speech as head of state while delivering the performance report of state institutions.

The president affirmed that in order to accelerate the realization of a fair and prosperous nation, Indonesia will undeniably require the support of its people, whose progress is largely determined by the performance of small, well-structured state institutions that optimize the use of manpower and resources.

This will also strengthen the presidential system, which will help to make the government more stable.

Thus, the government will be able to protect the entire Indonesian nation, promote general welfare and the intellectual life of the nation, and participate in implementing world order based on freedom, eternal peace, and social justice.

The president also mentioned that since the formation of the"Kerja" (Working) Cabinet, the government is gradually running the national development program as outlined in the presidents nine-point Nawacita agenda. The government has brought about a fundamental transformation in the economy and has changed the development paradigm from consumptive to productive.

To accelerate economic growth apart from encouraging the development of creative economy, the government is also focusing on developing infrastructure, such as highways, railways, ports, dams, and power plants.

The government is also diverting subsidies to productive sectors and social safety nets. Moreover, the government is distributing Healthy Indonesia Cards, Indonesia Smart Card, Family Welfare Cards, and Social Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Cards.

The government admits that several issues still confront us. To this day, the instability in food prices is still ongoing, the gap between the rich and poor and between regions is still wide open, corruption is still ongoing, and the rule of the law has not been completely solid.

The government will work hard to combat these problems.

"As for the political sphere, especially concerning internal conflicts in some political parties, the government chooses to stay neutral and hopes that the existing problems can be solved amicably," the president added.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015