President urges regional heads to facilitate investors

Jakarta (ANTARA) - People watched President Joko Widodo at a screen outside the Merdeka Palace during the celebration of the 74th Independence Day of Indonesia in Jakarta, Saturday (Aug 17, 2019). (ANTARA/Genta Tenri Mawangi)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has urged the regional heads to help facilitate investors who want to invest their capital in the regions. "The local government should give permission quickly if, for example, private sectors wanted to build a port, an airport, or a road, especially, in export-oriented industries," President Joko Widodo said when opening the National Development Planning Forums (Musrenbang) in Jakarta Monday.

Export-oriented industries can also improve Indonesia's trade balance deficit, according to President Jokowi.

They can also create employment opportunities for the people in the region, thereby increasing economic movements.

President Jokowi also asked local governments to consult with the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), if, they could not carry out development.

The regional governments had built infrastructures such as an airport or a port to connect with industrial centers, he explained and added that improvement in the quality of Human Resources (HR) should be carried out in the future.

If the foundation of development in both infrastructure and human resources can be completed, Indonesia's economic competitiveness would increase sharply, President Jokowi believed.

He opened a meeting attended by several ministers as well as regional heads from all regions of Indonesia.

Jokowi also explained various efforts needed to encourage development in the area of human resources, the Omnibus Law, and simplification of regulations.

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