Sultan reaffirms commitment to SMEs
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.