Saturday 24th of May 2014
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MANILA, May 24 -- Indonesian President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hailed on Thursday the selection of the Philippines as
this year’s host for the World Economic Forum on East Asia (WEF-EA), referring
to it as “a solid vote of confidence” for its remarkable economic achievements
in recent years.
In his speech at the WEF-EA’s plenary
session held at the Shangri-La hotel in Makati, Yudhoyono cited the good
economic performance of the Philippines and Indonesia, which had Britain-based
newspaper The Economist naming both countries as Asia’s "economic
stars" last year.
Evidently, Yudhoyono shared President
Benigno S. Aquino III’s agenda of inclusive growth with his demand for social
and economic mobility to address the issue of inequity that has been
challenging Asia’s complete economic development.
“In my view, at the heart of the
inequity is the question of social and economic mobility. I suppose we have to
be realistic that there will always be people who are more well-off than
others. But this becomes particularly problematic if mobility applies only for
the few.
The key challenge in addressing
inequity is how to ensure that those at the bottom and middle also enjoy the
same, if not more, socioeconomic mobility as those at the top; hence, mobility
for all. And in this way, it doesn’t matter how many billionaires and
millionaires emerge, so long as those at the economic bottom also get a ladder
of a better life opportunity and progress, ” Yudhoyono said.
Yudhoyono said this particular thrust
can be achieved through education—the “best weapon” against poverty—financial
inclusion, and entrepreneurship, especially in the micro, small, and medium
enterprises.
He noted, however, that “economic
growth and equitable progress are not necessarily the same thing;" hence,
there is a need for governments and institutions to come up with “true
pro-poor” programs, which, he said, “have always been at the heart of
Indonesia’s economic transformation.”
“Whatever the global ups and downs, I
do believe that the intense pro-poor programs and social safety nets that they
have instilled in the last decade will help make the Indonesian economy much
more resilient in the face of uncertainty, and that Allah will lift us not just
towards equality for all, not just towards equal opportunity for all, but
towards mobility for all,” Yudhoyono said.
Apart from his participation at this year’s WEF-EA (his last as
Indonesia’s President), Yudhoyono is also in the country for a state visit on
President Aquino’s invitation. The two leaders are expected to discuss matters of
mutual concern, including political, defense and border, maritime, economic,
and socio-cultural cooperation at the Palace on Friday (May 23).
