REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) encouraged each region in Indonesia to compete efficiently to attract investment, and grow its economy. He expected that each region can learn about each other's advantages as an effort to reduce the level of inequality and realize equitable national development.

JK said each region has different characteristics and natural resources. For example, in Sumatra, there are many plantations and mining products that quite large, as well as in Borneo and Sulawesi. Meanwhile, in Java, there are industry growth and the power of human resources that quite massive.

According to him, the wealth of natural resources, industry, and human resources capital is expected to be a force to reduce the level of national inequality. JK said each region needs to learn from others.

“That’s why it’s necessary to learn from each other instead of the progress of each region, such as in East Java, there is industrial development and Borneo should learn from it,” said JK on Tuesday (10/7).

JK also said each region must have its own policies to advance its territory and grow its economy. The various ideas and development experiences in each region need to be a national lesson, especially in addressing the gaps and inequalities.

“One of government’s programs is to promote the disadvantaged areas, marginal areas, and also backward areas,” JK added.

Further more, JK said inequality is a problem that can happen at any time in Indonesia. He asserted that the emergence of imbalances not only cause economic problems but also social and political problems.

Therefore, one of the government's step in reform era is giving autonomy or authority to the regions to advance their respective territories. Through the autonomy, JK said it is expected each region has the same level of progress so as to reduce the gini ratio.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika