Indonesia Must Be Ready To Welcome Global Economic Change

Jakarta, April 18 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said Indonesia must be ready to welcome global economic change in 2015 in order not to be left behind from other countries. "Global economy will change significantly in 2015, and therefore Indonesia must be ready in order to win, and not be left behind from other countries," the president said in Indonesia Young Leaders Forum 2013 here on Thursday. On the occasion the president asked all parties, particularly young entrepreneurs grouped in Young Businessmen Association (Hipmi), to improve competitiveness together when the Southeast Asian region enters ASEAN Economic Community 2015. "It is time to discontinue inhibiting bureaucracy," the president said, asking all parties to report if they discover a knot of inhibiting bureaucracy. But considering that 2013 and 2014 are political years with political climate predicted to heat up in the run up to general elections, President Yudhoyono called on all parties to maintain the national stability. "With the national stability, Indonesia can be ready to enter a new era of ASEAN Economic Community 2015," he said, adding that it was not necessary to consider the global economic change as a threat. "Do not deem the global economic change as a threat but think of it as an opportunity, instead," he went on. Meanwhile, Hipmi Chairman Raja Sapta Oktohari said that certain group of people in Indonesia at present was still easily provoked, and it had a potential to create instability. Therefore, he said it should be addressed because Indonesia has two main agenda in the near future, namely the general elections in 2014 and ASEAN Community 2015. The Indonesia Young Leaders Forum 2013 has the theme, "Together We Maintain National Stability in Greeting ASEAN Economic Community 2015." Present at the forum were among others Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa, Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, Culture and Education Minister Muhammad Nuh, National Police Chief Gen Timur Pradopo, TNI Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono, presidential special staff for economy Firmanzah, and presidential special staff for international relations Teuku Faizasyah.