Business Owners Unwilling to Lose Jokowi
18 March 2014 01:14 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Business owners in Jakarta expressed their concerns about Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) candidacy in the presidential election this year. They considered that Jokowi had successfully restored investors' trust and business conduciveness in the Capital.
"Business owners have a high expectation from Jokowi," Chariman of Jakarta Indonesian Indigenous Entrepreneurship Group (HIPPI) and Deputy Chairman of Jakarta Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sarman Simanjorang, told Tempo on Monday. Sarman said Jokowi's leadership has a significant impact on business and economy in Jakarta.
One of their aspirations realized by Jokowi was the establishment of one-roof integrated service (PTSP), which its regulation had been passed in December and is to be in force in April.
In addition, Jokowi had been able to boost Jakarta Budget for 2012 to almost US$3.5 billion, US$4.2 billion in 2013, and US$6 billion in 2014.
"The [budget] improvement is fantastic," Sarman said, claiming that the increase in the Budget had been encouraged by better business conditions in Jakarta.
"Almost 60 percent of the Capital's revenue came from business taxes, particularly from tourism service, and trading sectors," Sarman added.
In terms of economy, Jakarta achieved economic growth by 6.11 percent, which was above the national's average, when Jokowi served his first year as the governor in 2013.
"The growth contributed 18 percent to the national's economic growth," Sarman explained.
Another factor contributing to investors' trust in Jokowi's administration is his commitment to build infrastructures that previously had been delayed.
"Jokowi's effort to resume Mass Rapid Transit, Monorail, and the Giant Sea Wall projects reflected his commitment to improve Jakarta," Sarman added.
However, Sarman said, business owners believe that Jokowi's candidacy in the presidential election was not a surprise and they can understand that it is for 'greater good'. According to Sarman, business owners are hoping that Jokowi's successor can carry on his achievement in leading Jakarta.
PRAGA UTAMA
