ID :
31629
Sat, 11/22/2008 - 16:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/31629
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PRESIDENT: POVERTY ALSO SECURITY ISSUE
Lima, Nov. 22 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said that poverty is also a security issue and to tackle poverty also means to prevent political instability and safeguard the common future.
"A poor community is an angry community. Three billion people worldwide living on two dollars a day are three billion resentful people. Seven hundred million people suffering from chronic malnutrition are seven hundred million disenchanted citizens," President Yudhoyono said said at the APEC CEO Summit 2008 here on Friday.
The head of state made the remarks in his keynote speech titled "Economic Growth, Inequality and poverty: The Challenges for APEC's Developing Economies" at the CEO summit, running parallel to an APEC meeting of leaders from 21 Pacific Rim economies which will be held on Nov. 22 and 23, 2008.
Among the CEOs attending the Summit were Richard Adkerson from Freeport McMoran Copper and Gold, Jack Ma from Alibaba Group, Craig Mundie from Microsoft Corporation, and Nick Reilly of Daewoo Asia who moderated the meeting.
He said Indonesia, despite difficult economic times, had managed to make strides in the fight against poverty.
The country's poverty rate for 2008 was 15.4 percent, down from 16.5 percent in 2007, and from an incredible 42 percent in 1998.
The poverty figure in Indonesia - using both government and World Bank statistics as yardsticks - was the lowest in 10 years.
"It is the lowest both in terms of actual numbers and in terms of percentage to the population," he said.
He underscored the role of business in creating jobs, paying taxes to the government, developing technology, and creating growth.
"For a country to grow, business must grow. And for business to grow, governments must create a conducive climate. This is what we have tried to do in Indonesia, developing the right policies and incentives, strengthening the rule of law and easing of procedures for doing business. And I hope as governments do more for business, business in turn will also do more for the people," he said.
APEC has promoted the need for corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the Asia Pacific and it is thus time for businesses to incorporate CSR into their business strategies and ensure that their business operations take into account the community around them, be environmentally responsible and contribute to development, he said.
He also said that Indonesia had vast natural resources but those resources were not unlimited.
"It is the people who have unlimited potential. Economies thrive when driven by people empowered with skills, initiative, and innovation," he said.
"That is why, even during these tough times, my administration is investing more in education than ever before. Our people - especially our youth - are our real riches. I am particularly pleased that for the first time in our independent history, we have finally been able to reach the long-awaited 20 % allocation for education in our national budget," he said.
The country was spending billions of dollars on rural education, rural infrastructures and better healthcare, which were necessary investments for the nation's future, he said,
The head of state said businesses could also invest in local educational and social programs.
"Again, this may seem like a cost at first. But who will expose corrupt governments if not a better educated community? You will thank them, and yourselves, later," he said.
Another reason for investing in education is that it will lead to more innovations in alternative energy, according to Yudhoyono in the CEO summit themed "Growth, Equity and Sustainable Development: Challenges for APEC".
"A poor community is an angry community. Three billion people worldwide living on two dollars a day are three billion resentful people. Seven hundred million people suffering from chronic malnutrition are seven hundred million disenchanted citizens," President Yudhoyono said said at the APEC CEO Summit 2008 here on Friday.
The head of state made the remarks in his keynote speech titled "Economic Growth, Inequality and poverty: The Challenges for APEC's Developing Economies" at the CEO summit, running parallel to an APEC meeting of leaders from 21 Pacific Rim economies which will be held on Nov. 22 and 23, 2008.
Among the CEOs attending the Summit were Richard Adkerson from Freeport McMoran Copper and Gold, Jack Ma from Alibaba Group, Craig Mundie from Microsoft Corporation, and Nick Reilly of Daewoo Asia who moderated the meeting.
He said Indonesia, despite difficult economic times, had managed to make strides in the fight against poverty.
The country's poverty rate for 2008 was 15.4 percent, down from 16.5 percent in 2007, and from an incredible 42 percent in 1998.
The poverty figure in Indonesia - using both government and World Bank statistics as yardsticks - was the lowest in 10 years.
"It is the lowest both in terms of actual numbers and in terms of percentage to the population," he said.
He underscored the role of business in creating jobs, paying taxes to the government, developing technology, and creating growth.
"For a country to grow, business must grow. And for business to grow, governments must create a conducive climate. This is what we have tried to do in Indonesia, developing the right policies and incentives, strengthening the rule of law and easing of procedures for doing business. And I hope as governments do more for business, business in turn will also do more for the people," he said.
APEC has promoted the need for corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the Asia Pacific and it is thus time for businesses to incorporate CSR into their business strategies and ensure that their business operations take into account the community around them, be environmentally responsible and contribute to development, he said.
He also said that Indonesia had vast natural resources but those resources were not unlimited.
"It is the people who have unlimited potential. Economies thrive when driven by people empowered with skills, initiative, and innovation," he said.
"That is why, even during these tough times, my administration is investing more in education than ever before. Our people - especially our youth - are our real riches. I am particularly pleased that for the first time in our independent history, we have finally been able to reach the long-awaited 20 % allocation for education in our national budget," he said.
The country was spending billions of dollars on rural education, rural infrastructures and better healthcare, which were necessary investments for the nation's future, he said,
The head of state said businesses could also invest in local educational and social programs.
"Again, this may seem like a cost at first. But who will expose corrupt governments if not a better educated community? You will thank them, and yourselves, later," he said.
Another reason for investing in education is that it will lead to more innovations in alternative energy, according to Yudhoyono in the CEO summit themed "Growth, Equity and Sustainable Development: Challenges for APEC".
