SBY In Front Of Japanese Students-Academics: Stay Optimistic Viewing Indonesia

The 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) in the book review event "Standing Firm for Indonesia's Democracy" at the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Indonesia's 6th President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) shared his views on Indonesia's future with Indonesian students and Japanese academics by inviting them to remain optimistic.

Stay optimistic about Indonesia. There could be cloudy times in the future, but Indonesia is a great country," said SBY as quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, March 9.

The book "Standing Firm for Indonesia's Democracy" is the result of an in-depth interview with Japanese academics who explored SBY's experience and thoughts while leading Indonesia during the transitional democratic period.

SBY, who served as president of Indonesia for two terms in 2004-2014, said that Indonesia's 'secret prescription' succeeded in restoring the economy from its post-crisis slump.

"When I entered 2004, economic growth was only 4 percent. In a year, we managed to increase it to 5.1 percent and it was maintained for 10 years," he said.

SBY explained that one of the big challenges faced at that time was the low investment due to lack of security, social instability, poor investment climate, legal uncertainty, and lack of infrastructure.

This condition resulted in the absence of investors who wanted to invest in Indonesia and made the flow of funds abroad or capital outflows and rupiah shaken.

SBY then revealed four main components that are key to economic growth, namely increasing household consumption, increasing government spending by maintaining effective government spending, maintaining export and investment flows.

"Including downstreaming and industrialization that must be successful," he added.

When asked about the current economic condition, SBY is optimistic that President Prabowo's government can overcome challenges.

"I believe this government can, President Prabowo can. There are still resources that are owned, both political and economic resources, to overcome the situation and stimulate our economic growth," he said.

Present at the same event, the Indonesian Ambassador to Japan, Heri Ahmadi. Ambassador Heri highlighted the economic achievements in the SBY era which managed to grow by an average of 6 percent, unemployment fell from 10 percent to 5.7 percent, and poverty from 16.7 percent to 11 percent.

"That means approximately 8.6 million people in the period Mr. SBY were successfully removed from poverty," said Ambassador Heri.