Muhamad Al Azhari & Ardian Wibisono – The business community welcomed quick-count poll figures suggesting that incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, had easily won a second term without a runoff. But those interviewed also said they would expect the president to honor his campaign promises and act faster on a number of economic issues.

Multiple polls have shown Yudhoyono and running-mate Boediono breaching the 51 percent vote threshold needed to prevail without a second round of voting. Many of the quick counts predicted that the pair would win as much as 61 percent of the vote. Official results are expected to be announced on July 27.

"Basically, if SBY and Boediono win, they are likely to continue the government's current policies," said Ernovian G Ismy, secretary general of the Indonesian Textile Association (API).

"If one looks at the 2007 presidential decree on the real sector, they already have a very comprehensive plan to accelerate development. But this decree still needs to be implemented."

Djimanto, secretary general of Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), said that the business community was working through the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) to prepare a road-map for industrial development through 2014, which would be submitted to the next president.

An important proposal in the plan was putting an increased emphasis on processing raw materials rather than just exporting them, Djimanto said.

"Currently, far too many mining and agricultural products are exported raw," he said. "We are asking the government to focus on how we can process these products domestically to add value and expand our manufacturing and export sectors."

Further expanding domestic industry, he said, would also require the speedy development of supporting infrastructure and aid with financing.

Djimanto said the business community would also look to the new government to speed up the process of obtaining licenses from government bodies.

Thomas Darmawan, chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverages Association (Gapmi), said businesses expected the next cabinet to be filled with professionals rather than politicians, saying that professionals would do a better job.

"In the past, many policies took too long to be implemented because ministers often consulted with their parties first," he said. "But if the cabinet was full of professionals, things would improve quickly."

Sigit Pramono, chairman of the Indonesian Banking Association (Perbanas) and publisher of the Jakarta Globe, said that the next government should set specific and measurable economic targets for its first 90 days in power. If those goals were met, he said, public confidence would increase and further propel growth.