Working On The Maritime Sector, Ganjar Pranowo: We Can Increase State Revenue Hundreds Of Times

Ganjar Pranowo explained Indonesia's maritime potential. (IST)

JAKARTA - The PDI-P presidential candidate, Ganjar Pranowo believes that Indonesia will become the strongest economy in the world. Not only a prediction, Ganjar is optimistic that this will actually materialize with a clearly prepared roadmap.

This was conveyed by Ganjar when he was invited to be a speaker for the MNC Forum LXX (70th) entitled Globalization, Opportunities and Challenges for Indonesia in the future at the Jakarta Concert Hall iNews Tower on the 14th floor, Monday, May 29. The event was attended by MNC founder, Hary Tanoesoedibjo and 23,000 MNC employees, as well as Perindo party cadres and elites.

"Who says Indonesia is a poor country. We are a rich country and are predicted to become the strongest economy in the world. Indonesia is rich, only we haven't calculated how much potential it is. If I am given a mandate, I will look for people to calculate it, then we will optimize it," he said.

Ganjar gave an example, among the sources of natural wealth that have not been well explored in Indonesia are the maritime sector. This island nation, which has an ocean area of 3,273,810 km2, still has not optimized the resources in it.

"Our sea area is 6 times from Vietnam. However, our marine products are compared to Vietnam, only one third. We are still losing," said Ganjar.

The Indonesian Sea has just been optimized for capture fisheries. From the capture fisheries sector alone, Indonesia has not made a major contribution. The capture fisheries sector in Indonesia is still inferior to other countries.

In fact, many other sectors can produce great benefits from Indonesian maritime. The energy, mineral and all the wealth contained in the Indonesian oceans includes tourism, and many others.

"If we work on this maritime sector seriously and optimize it, we can increase our GDP 100 percent every year," he explained.

Not to mention Ganjar's continued about other potentials. President Jokowi has laid the foundation for downstream nickel and bauxite. Currently, the downstream program has succeeded in increasing exports by 300 times. The export value rose from Rp11.95 trillion to Rp326 trillion.

Jokowi has also built a very extraordinary infrastructure. Toll roads, dams, industrial estates and others.

"Is that enough? Not yet, because that's just the foundation. Our task going forward is to continue. Downstreaming must reach industrialization. Toll roads, dams and all existing infrastructure projects must be able to increase added value. That's our job," he said.

With everything that exists, Ganjar continued, becoming a developed country is no longer a dream. Acceleration and hard work must be done immediately. It takes mutual cooperation, cohesiveness and unity to make it happen.

Including, he continued, how to create a government that is clean, has integrity and serves. Corrupt practices, gratification and complicated services must be disposed of all the way from this country.

"So, now don't say it, don't be small. Sorry, when we still question the differences in race, ethnicity, religion, we will never progress. Never mind, let's stop the debate. We maintain unity, the impact of ranks to face a glorious future," he concluded.

High appreciation was given by tens of thousands of people who were present to Ganjar. In fact, the founder of MNC as well as the chairman of Perindo, Hary Tanoesoedibjo (HT) gave a thumbs up for the ideas and ideas conveyed by Ganjar.

"It's amazing, Pak Ganjar gave a very interesting presentation and idea. I'm sure everyone who comes gets an interest," he said.

Usually, he continued, the MNC Forum event was only attended by the elite ranks of the MNC Group. However, this time HT deliberately invited all Perindo employees and cadres because Ganjar was a very strategic figure.

"He is a presidential candidate, so we believe he gets the perspective of his ideas and ideas. And it turns out that he is extraordinary," added Hary Tanoesoedibyo about Ganjar Pranowo.