Manila (ANTARA News) – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has called on his countrymen to be optimistic about the nations economic condition in 2015 and for the coming years.
“No one should be pessimistic. Everyone should be optimistic that we can make it happen,” President Jokowi told a gathering of Indonesian community members at the countrys Embassy building here in Manila on Monday.
He pointed out that many countries, including China, have revised their economic growth target for 2015 from seven percent to six percent.
“We have raised ours from 5.1 percent to 5.8 percent. We target to reach over seven percent subsequently,” the President noted.
The Indonesian head of state affirmed that this year and for the next several years to come, the government will cooperate with other parties to build the countrys infrastructure such as the Trans Sumatra road, airports, and others.
“It will encourage the growth of our economy, and I believe the growth will reach over seven percent,” Jokowi remarked while inviting Indonesian students in the Philippines to return home soon after completing their studies.
When asked about the ongoing conflict between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and National Police (Polri), the President stated it will end soon.
“I am not a hostage to the past. Im hopeful that a solution can be reached,” the President stressed.
However, he admitted, it will take time to solve the KPK-Polri conflict as it is related to politics and law. It will be too risky to make a decision without much deliberation, he added.
“There are many things that must be addressed. But, God willing, the conflict between the KPK and Polri will end this week; my calculation is this week,” President Jokowi affirmed.
The KPK is currently handling an alleged corruption case involving Commissioner General Budi Gunawan, whom the anti-graft body has named a suspect.
The commission named him suspect after President Jokowi nominated him as the sole candidate for the post of national police chief.