FEB UI Professor: President Jokowi, Father of Infrastructure Who Realizes Holistic Prosperity
Jakarta — Throughout President Jokowi’s administration, many parties agree that President Jokowi’s achievements have not only succeeded in connecting Indonesia’s regions, but also encouraged inclusive economic growth, especially in the Disadvantaged, Frontier and Outermost (3T) regions. Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Susiwijono Moegiarso, and Professor of the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia, Telisa Aulia Falianty, in the Kompas TV program (04/09), highlighted President Joko Widodo’s extraordinary success in infrastructure development over the last decade.
Susiwijono Moegiarso underlined the importance of infrastructure development in increasing connectivity and food sovereignty.
“Related to connectivity and mobility, such as airports, ports, railway lines, then there are also those related to energy and food sovereignty with 53 dams and food estates with irrigation networks,” explained Susiwijono.
According to him, massive infrastructure development in various sectors, from transportation to irrigation, has created a solid foundation for the national economy. He also added that the success of downstreaming in Special Economic Zones (KEK) is also part of this development strategy.
“There is also downstreaming from Special Economic Zones (KEK), to date there are 22. If we look at the spread, 15 are outside Java, thus encouraging an inclusive economy,” he continued, while highlighting that 122 thousand new workers have been created from this KEK program .
One of the main focuses in President Jokowi’s administration is the development of previously marginalized 3T areas.
“Speaking of 3T areas, we have encouraged the economy in border areas, such as Jayapura, Irian, and also the border with Timor Leste,” said Susiwijono.
Infrastructure development in these areas not only increases accessibility, but also creates new economic opportunities that were previously unaffordable.
Meanwhile, Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia (FEB UI), Telisa Aulia Falianty, called President Jokowi the Father of Indonesian Infrastructure.
Telisa emphasized that infrastructure development in the era of President Jokowi not only has an impact on improving the economy, but also creates holistic prosperity for all Indonesian people. He emphasized that infrastructure development in the Jokowi era had a significant double effect, especially on economic growth and employment.
“Infrastructure has quite a large multiplier effect, the characteristic of infrastructure in Indonesia is that it is labor intensive, because many National Strategic Projects (PSN) absorb employment opportunities,” explained Telisa.
He added that the infrastructure built throughout the country, including in Disadvantaged, Frontier and Outermost (3T) areas, has helped increase people’s mobility and accessibility, as well as reducing logistics costs and speeding up the distribution of goods.
“We as a society feel the efficiency of our activities with this infrastructure development,” he added.
Since the beginning of his term of office, President Jokowi has made development from the periphery one of his main priorities, which is summarized in Nawacita. According to Telisa, this policy has succeeded in having a big impact on areas that were previously difficult to reach.
“If we look, the President is Nawacita, and he builds from the outskirts, so the 3T area is his priority,” said Telisa.
He also appreciated the success of President Jokowi’s government in creating a fairer and more equitable distribution system, even to border areas.
“People in outer areas really need access to make it easy for them to meet their needs and at affordable prices. “In the past, there has never been a single price system in history for fuel, but in Pak Jokowi’s era, this can be achieved,” he explained.
Telisa added that the positive impact of this infrastructure development is not only on the physical aspect, but also touches the welfare of society holistically.
“Welfare is holistic, not only related to the availability of physical infrastructure, but also the overall impact, especially in terms of increasingly advanced human resources and an increasingly prosperous society,” he added.
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