BANDUNG, September 13 (EngineeringDaily) -- Indonesian President-elect Joko Widodo (Jokowi) recently shared some insight regarding the nation’s fiscal and development policy. The following are some of the points presented by Widodo during an exclusive interview with journalist Barly Haliem Noe of Kontan Online.
Kontan: What task will be your priority during your term as president?
Jokowi: I think now there is a lot of work to be done. Everything is a priority. One example is our infrastructure and port system. How many years we are late compared to other countries in building functional harbors necessary for trade and commerce? Our facilities are also already far behind those of other countries, and the airport capacity we have is no longer sufficient.
Kontan: Why do you think these problems have happened?
Jokowi: Though there have been many attempts to address these issues in the past, it often turns out the real problem is not touched. The concept is good, but the implementation is not up to par. That’s why I see my job as a foreman, to make sure plans are properly carried out. We also need to change the mindset and processes of the bureaucracy.
Kontan: What are your plans regarding the fiscal budget and subsidies?
Jokowi: The main principle is not to spend the entire budget on subsidies. We must shift them to productive sectors and development. Improper subsidies cause greater budget deficit.
Kontan: How do you enact such a policy?
Jokowi: I cannot say now. The important thing is explaining to people that they will benefit from the transfer of subsidy to the development of infrastructure, agriculture, small businesses, and fuel for fishermen. The system must be carefully designed in order to be on target and effective.
Kontan: With regards to fuel crisis, will your policy stop at simply cutting the subsidy or is there a bigger plan in the works?
Jokowi: We will of course be raising fuel prices, but by no means do we believe that alone will solve the problem. Policies favoring fuel savings must be adopted. For instance, one policy will be to encourage switching from the use of fuel to gas conversion. There should be a fully developed governmental energy policy. Without a clear energy policy, any isolated actions will be useless.
Kontan: Finally, can you tell us more about the economic growth target of your administration?
Jokowi: We must of course first properly develop the country’s infrastructure and improve the bureaucratic system. Then, for the first year, the economy could grow by 5.8 to 6 percent. By our third year, we expect closer to 7 percent, and the growth will be expected to rise even further if we have a strong foundation established.
By Isamail Al Anshori
