President Urges Gapensi To Improve Competitiveness

Sanur, Bali, Jan 20 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on the Indonesian National Construction Association (Gapensi) to make use of every opportunity to improve competitiveness. "I hope you can continue to improve competitiveness in your efforts to respond to the challenges posed by this globalization era," the president said when opening the 13th Gapensi National Conference here on Monday. Speaking to some 800 construction entrepreneurs attending the conference, the head of state pointed out that Indonesia has a lot of opportunities to achieve the best results following the rise in gross domestic product and per capita income. He noted that over the past nine years, state expenditure has increased significantly by three to four fold compared to that in 2005. According to him, Indonesia`s economic growth remains positive, or the highest after China in the G-20 economic group, although that of many other countries has turned negative. On the occasion, the head of state also encouraged the construction entrepreneurs in the country to continue to play their role in ensuring the success of the Master Plan for Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia`s Economic Development (MP3EI), which coordinates infrastructure development for the improvement of connectivity. President Yudhoyono said the government was in need of private support to improve 70 percent of the infrastructure development plan in Indonesia. Meanwhile, Gapensi Central Executive Board Chairman Aji Soeharsojo claimed the Gapensi conference aims to produce a policy package that will strengthen the national construction industry. He noted that Gapensi had also asked the government and the stakeholders of the national construction industry to produce various solutions to domestic problems for the progress of the construction industry and to prepare for the implementation of ASEAN Economic Community 2015 and WTO 2020. President Yudhoyono, on the occasion, was accompanied by Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto, Industry Minister MS Hidayat, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi and other dignitaries.