L. Gora Kunjana, Jakarta – Ajib Hamdani, deputy treasurer of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association, or Hipmi, said entrepreneurs no longer need to wait and see before investing, now that the elections are over.
"The presidential election is over. Now young entrepreneurs should focus on driving the economy, opening job opportunities. We no longer have to look at the election results because the presidential election is over," Ajib said at a fast-breaking event with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in South Jakarta on Sunday.
Indonesia's annual economic growth unexpectedly slowed down to 5.07 percent in the first quarter of this year, due to lackluster domestic consumption and slowing investment.
Ajib, who is a frontrunner in the election of a new chairperson at Hipmi's upcoming national congress, said the political situation in the country has an indirect impact on its economic performance.
Increased investment will lead to economic growth
"Our economy has now begun to improve. For economic progress, we need to boost investment immediately, because this country needs [economic] acceleration. So we ask our friends all over the country to no longer wait [to invest]," Ajib said.
"We must continue to boost our exports, so we have a positive current-account balance," he added.
Jokowi has repeatedly called on ministers and regional heads to loosen regulations, to encourage more foreign investment.
"When investors come, all of you should just close your eyes. When you wake up tomorrow, give them their permits, ask them to set up [their businesses]. That's how you solve things," the president said during the National Development Planning Congress at Shangri-La Hotel in Jakarta on May 9, as quoted by Kompas.com.