REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Vice President Boediono has officially opened the Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals Association (ICMI) National Conference at Jakarta Convention Center, on Friday. During his opening remarks, VP Boediono talked about the significant role of the ICMI in the development of Indonesias democracy, as a think-tank that could offer inputs to the government.

"I have spent more than 30 years in governance and I think there are lots of experiences, good and bad, in every period. Hence, I call on all the ICMIs intellectuals to find those good experiences from the earlier period that can be passed on to the current government as well as to the future," stated Boediono.

According to Boediono, Indonesia, which was eager to move forward with a reformation spirit, was facing a dilemma in achieving a democratic nation and state. He said the country was still being overshadowed by the era of New Order or "Orde Baru".

"On the one hand, Indonesia is already being recognized as a fully democratic country. But on the other, our development is not yet optimal," he pointed out.

"That is why perhaps we have to learn from our past. I think we can take the positive sides of the achievements during the era of the New Order, as we know that the New Order was indeed recognized worldwide as success for development," Boediono added.

However, Vice President Boediono also emphasized that Indonesia had to stick to reformation and democratic values in order to develop the country.

"I don't say that we have to go back to the New Order, but what I underline here is that we need to find a balance," he explained.

The ICMI National Conference 2013 projects "Indonesian New Economic Movement: Access Mobilization for People Prosperity" as the tagline and aims to empower small and medium enterprises through the Indonesian Halal Business and Food exhibition held on December 20-21, 2013.

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