By: Andri Saputra)*
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has recorded extraordinary achievements in bringing Indonesia to the status of a global economic power. Since taking office in 2014, President Jokowi has focused on infrastructure development and improving the quality of human resources as the main pillars of economic progress.
This success not only strengthens Indonesia’s position in the Southeast Asia region, but is also recognized on the global stage. Stable and sustainable economic growth, even amidst global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, proves President Jokowi’s leadership ability in bringing Indonesia to the world economic map.
One of the most prominent aspects of President Jokowi’s leadership is the massive infrastructure development program. In recent years, Indonesia has witnessed the construction of toll roads, ports, airports, and even high-speed trains connecting various regions. This step not only facilitates the mobility of goods and people, but also opens up greater investment opportunities, both from within and outside the country. Reliable infrastructure is an important foundation in driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Chairman of the Indonesian Economists Association (ISEI) and Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI), Perry Warjiyo said that infrastructure development, digitalization and downstreaming are strong foundations for the Indonesian economy. President Jokowi emphasizes aspects of infrastructure development, downstreaming, digitalization, and support for MSMEs, so that not only is the economic foundation strong, but the supply side also develops. Regarding infrastructure, he gave an example of the construction of a toll road connecting Jakarta-Solo which has shortened travel time from 12 hours to around 5-7 hours. This infrastructure support also ultimately has an impact on increasing economic capacity in the regions.
In addition to infrastructure, President Jokowi’s economic policies also position Indonesia as a promising investment destination. Bureaucratic reform and ease of investment licensing, as seen in the Job Creation Law, have succeeded in attracting foreign investors. President Jokowi also encouraged increased productivity in the manufacturing and industrial sectors through fiscal incentives, thereby creating new jobs and increasing the competitiveness of Indonesian products in the global market. Sectors such as automotive, technology, and renewable energy have grown rapidly under President Jokowi’s administration, strengthening Indonesia’s role in the global supply chain.
Another key to Indonesia’s economic success under President Jokowi is the focus on human resource (HR) development. Through programs such as the Pre-Employment Card, the government is trying to improve the skills of the workforce so that they are better prepared to compete in the digital era. President Jokowi believes that quality HR is the main capital in facing global economic challenges. By supporting vocational education and training, President Jokowi hopes that Indonesia will be able to produce a workforce that is able to compete in high-tech industries, such as artificial intelligence, data science, and digital technology.
Meanwhile, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indonesian economy has shown remarkable resilience. Appropriate economic stimulus policies, such as Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) and subsidies for the small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector, have succeeded in maintaining people’s purchasing power and maintaining economic stability. Despite experiencing economic contraction, Indonesia has managed to recover and return to positive growth. President Jokowi also emphasized the importance of strengthening domestic economic resilience through diversification of economic sectors, such as agriculture and renewable energy, to face future global challenges.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto said that over the past 10 years, Indonesia’s economic growth has increased rapidly. After the COVID-19 pandemic and when global economic growth was only around 3 percent, Indonesia managed to double that figure. He also highlighted Indonesia’s success in controlling inflation, which was considered much better than other countries during the crisis. Not only that, trade conditions also showed a positive trend, and investment and distribution of people’s business credit continued to increase, so that everyone could see real progress in the economic sector.
Indonesia’s position in the international arena is also getting stronger under President Jokowi’s leadership. Indonesia’s participation in world economic forums, such as the G20, reflects the country’s strategic role in determining the direction of global economic policy. President Jokowi also encourages cooperation with major countries, such as China, the United States, and the European Union, to strengthen trade and investment. With an increasingly respected position, Indonesia is not only a regional player, but also an influential global actor.
President Jokowi’s success in realizing Indonesia as a global economic power cannot be separated from the support of all elements of society. From workers to entrepreneurs, all play an active role in driving the progress of the national economy. With the foundation that has been built, Indonesia has a great opportunity to continue to grow and become one of the world’s leading economic powers. President Jokowi has laid a strong foundation, and he hopes that the next generation will continue this great vision for a more advanced Indonesia in the future.
)* The author is a Masters student of Political Science who lives in Bandung