Sultan reaffirms commitment to SMEs
The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengku Buwono X reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the alliance between the local administration, universities and the private sector in developing the grassroots economy, especially in attacking poverty.
The governor charted out his policy road map at a meeting he held with representatives of the business community and higher learning institutions, social and religious leaders as well as the chiefs of all regencies in Yogyakarta immediately after his installation on Thursday for a second term (2003-2008).
"The open, frank discussions conveyed a very positive signal, especially to the business community, that besides poverty alleviation and public services, pro-business policies will remain at the top of the administration's agenda," said businessman Tony Agus Ardie from Jakarta who attended the meeting.
This commitment, Tony said on Saturday, was important to maintain business confidence, especially in the run up to the 2004 election year that may cause political turbulence.
The governor is fully aware that generating productive jobs is the most effective way of attacking poverty and that SMEs play an important role both in generating employment and in empowering the grassroots economy, Tony said of his conclusions from the meeting with the sultan.
He recalled that Yogyakarta had been chosen by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as a model for the empowerment of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) employing the three pillars -- businesses, universities and the administration.
"This program is being undertaken under the Country Service Framework for Indonesia the government signed with the Vienna- based UNIDO in Jakarta late November," added Tony who also is developing integrated shrimp farming in Yogyakarta in cooperation with local farmers, the Gadjah Mada University and local administration.
He praised the three-pillar concept used by the Yogyakarta administration in empowering SMEs, involving businesses and local universities under the leadership of the Yogyakarta governor.
Tony said under the three-pillar concept, Yogyakarta functioned as one of the country's centers of excellence in education, and could well lead the province to robust, broad- based growth.