Indonesian President: Development must be environmentally friendly

Antara 10 Jun 10;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said the government must prioritize green economic development strategy which is environmentally friendly in order to prevent ecosystem degradation that demands big rehabilitation cost.

The president made the statement when officially opening a cabinet session at the Presidential Office, here, Thursday, being attended by Vice President Boediono and all members of the ministerial cabinet lineup.

The government must implement triple-track-plus-one economic strategy, namely pro growth, pro job, pro poor, plus pro environment," he stated.

He said the environmental aspect must not be forgotten in the economic development, or otherwise the rehabilitation works to improve the damaged environment might reach 20 percent of the GDP.

"There is an interesting article, which writes that economic-driven national development which ignoring the environment, in the long term, will cost 20 percent of the GDP for rehabilitating damaged environment. We should be aware of that," he said.

In addition to the environmental aspect in the development, the government wants to create more job opportunities in the future, the president said.

"There should be a strategy for job creation nation-wide in the sectors of manufacture, services, and agriculture," he said.

He asked the ministers to help create new jobs through projects which are work, technology and capital intensive as a whole, he added.

"We must create much more jobs," he stated.

President Yudhoyono also called for the efficient and correct implementation of the 2011 State Budget starting with careful and meticulous drafting.

"I remind you, it should be on target. Thank God, the state budget is getting bigger thanks to our growing gross domestic product (GDP) and revenues. But these gains will not be effective when the design, structure, allocation and distribution of state budget funds are not on track. Let us make sure that everything is on track," (*)