Tycoons reminded of greater social resposibility
Tycoons reminded of greater social resposibility
DENPASAR (JP): Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono reminded
Indonesia's largest-scale businessmen yesterday of their
increasing social responsibility in line with their expanding
role in the economy.
"I told them that the final goal of the economic development
is to create social justice and welfare for all of the people,"
Moerdiono told reporters after addressing the owners of almost
100 of the country's largest conglomerates at a meeting in Bali
yesterday.
The corporate bosses are at the Bali Intercontinental Hotel
for a three-day refresher course on the Pancasila state ideology
and other aspects of economic development. The program started on
Friday.
Among the participants are the country's richest people, such
as Lim Sioe Liong (Sudono Salim) of the Salim Group, Eka Tjipta
Widjaya of the Sinar Mas Group, Prajogo Pangestu of the Barito
Group, Mochtar Riyadi of the Lippo Group and Aburizal Bakrie of
the Bakrie Group.
Other participants include President Soeharto's sons, Bambang
Trihatmodjo and Sigit Harjojudanto, prominent businessmen, such
as Sudwikatmono, Ibrahim Risjad, Sofyan Wanandi, Yusuf Wanandi,
Subronto Laras, James Riyadi, The Nin King, Putra Sampoerna, Toni
Agus Ardie, Fahmi Idris, Andree Halim, Rudy Ramli, Rudi Ramly,
Arifin Panigoro, Muchtar Widjaya and Candra Ciputra.
The speakers during the gathering, held amid growing criticism
over the widening financial gap between the rich and the poor,
include several ministers, such as Coordinating Minister for
Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman and State
Minister of National Planning/Chairman of Investment Planning
Board Ginandjar Kartasasmita, as well as Armed Forces Chief Gen.
Faisal Tanjung.
State Minister for Environmental Affairs Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja, former vice president Sudharmono and the chairman
of the Pancasila Propagation Agency Soeprapto also have addressed
the gathering.
Speaking to newsmen after giving his address at the gathering,
Moerdiono said that the partnership between small-scale companies
and business conglomerates is one of the nation's most important
cooperation programs, which should be further promoted to achieve
social justice in the country.
Arrangement
Moerdiono said that the partnership between the large
corporations and the small-scale companies should be carried out
under a real business arrangement.
"The partnership should not be made out of a pity because such
a business relationship is not sound, nor sustainable," he said,
citing that the business deals between the large and small-scale
companies could be in the form of sub-contracting arrangements.
Former vice president Sudharmono said in the meeting that he
considered social justice and the creation of jobs as the biggest
challenges emerging from inside the country.
"Large, medium and small-scale companies, as well as
cooperatives, should develop mutually beneficial business
partnerships," he said.
He also called on the business community to further improve
the efficiency and productivity of their activities in light of
the need to cope with the biggest challenges from outside the
country -- economic globalization and trade liberalization.
Coordinating Minister Soesilo said at the opening of the
meeting that economic development could not be separated from
other aspects of the people's livelihood.
"The integration of the state ideology into the practices of
the country's business players should, therefore, be considered
an ongoing process," he told journalists after addressing the
gathering.
He acknowledged that there are many challenges to be faced in
creating social justice because many people have yet to implement
the principles of the Pancasila state ideology in their daily
lives.
Gen. Faisal said it is now high time for the economic agents
to strengthen their unity and their sense of solidarity in facing
international competition.
"The spirit of unity and solidarity will prevent the flare up
of social jealousy regarding business conglomeration," Faisal
said. (hen/vin)