Posture of Indonesia Economic Corridor B. Sumatra Economic Corridor

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim Assalamu ’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, Peace be upon us all, My beloved fellow countrymen, Three years ago, on 20 th May 2008, when our country commemorated one century of our Naional Awakening, I gave a naion-wide address concerning the future of Indonesia. I menioned at the ime that Indonesia can transform into a developed naion in the 21 st Century. With the introducion of the main theme “Indonesia Can”, we pledged and promised to unite and work hard to increase self reliance, compeiiveness, with a disinguished and proud naion as prerequisites to becoming a developed naion in the 21 st Century, which is likely to be full of challenges as well as opportuniies. We may recall, right ater our naion commemorated 100 years of Naional Awakening, the world experienced a serious economic crisis afecing all naions of the world. The economy of developed countries collapsed, and the world experienced a distressful “Second Great Depression”. However, with the help of God Almighty and the readiness and hard work of every one of us, Indonesia managed to minimize the impact of that global crisis, and our economy not only prevailed but actually grew. This historical episode shows that Indonesia CAN overcome the crisis and meet the challenge. In a gathering with the Kadin business community in Jakarta on 10 September 2009, I asked our country’s business community to synergize and improve Indonesia’s economy. In a simple and clear language I expressed that our bigger mission within the next 5 years 2010–2015 was to exercise “debotlenecking”, acceleraion and expansion of Indonesia’s naional development. If we are able to accomplish these three main aciviies, then our economy will grow more rapidly, employment opportuniies will be created, and poverty will be more switly alleviated. Meanwhile, when addressing a general assembly during the anniversary of ITS Surabaya on December 14 th , 2010, I asked the whole of Indonesia to together build opimism and conidence that Indonesia can become an Advanced Economy from Emerging Economy 15 years from now. At that ime, many world insituions and observers have predicted that Indonesia, now a member of the G-20, will soon migrate froman Emerging Economy to an Advanced Economy. It was during that ITS address in Surabaya that I irst stated to the public the agenda for the acceleraion and expansion of Indonesia economy, which includes contribuions in technology and naional innovaions, which is today presented as MP3EI. All of what I have extended is solely to build our assurance and conidence as a naion, that Indonesia truly CAN build its own beter future. Of course, as I so oten remind us all, there is never an easy way to reach such high goals. Our ambiion to signiicantly increase economic development starts with developing good strategies, making supporive policies and clear and proper acion plans, implemented with persistence and earnest, along with the efecive and dedicated leadership of all state and regional oicials. Fellow countrymen, The Republic of Indonesia is a naion blessed with almost all of the prerequisites for transformaion into a great economic power. With its abundant natural resources, large, producive and young populaion, and strategic access to the global mobility network, these assets and access empower Indonesia to establish itself to its righful place among the leading economies of the world. This perspecive is supported by many internaional agencies therefore we must prove to the world that Indonesia is worthy and capable of being a big player in the global economy.