REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUPANG -- Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo has asked all regions in the country to increase their competitive edge in the face of the impending establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

"As autonomous regions, they have to increase their competitiveness to improve people's prosperity. Autonomous regions should serve as a supporting factor in boosting the flow of goods and services to compete in the Southeast Asian region," the Home Affairs Minister said on Saturday (25/4).

The minister delivered these remarks in a written address read out during the 129th anniversary celebrations of the East Nusa Tenggara provincial capital of Kupang. Kupang has been appointed as the 19th autonomous region.

He said improvement of the economy in the region would reduce unemployment rates, improve the quality of people's health and education, as well as enhance employment opportunities.

The minister reminded that regional autonomous policies would in time face a number of challenges and demands amid the plurality of development at the local, regional and national levels.

In such a case, accountable and transparent policies, which met the aspirations of the people were needed, he added.

The minister said Indonesia now had 542 autonomous regions consisting of 34 provinces, 415 districts and 93 cities throughout the country.

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