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ice President Jusuf Kalla expressed his optimism that the economy in Indonesia would improve in the next two to three years and encouraged entrepreneurs to invest now.

'€œThe current conditions are quite difficult and it may continue on like this through next year. However, I am convinced that conditions will show improvement in the next two to three years,'€ said Kalla in his keynote address at the inauguration of the 7th Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) national congress in Bandung on Monday.

Investing during a less favorable time, he added, would be beneficial and dynamic entrepreneurs should see the situation as an opportunity.

'€œNow is the time to invest as everything is cheaper. Building a factory now would definitely be cheaper compared to building in the next two or three years,'€ said Kalla.

The government, continued Kalla, are very supportive of entrepreneurs willing to develop the manufacturing industry as this relates to urbanization, a shift in people from rural to urban areas in search of work.

'€œThe manufacturing industry could provide bigger job opportunities,'€ said Kalla before a crowd of 1,000 Kadin members.

Based on Central Statistics Agency (BPS) data, slow economic growth would take place during the initial stage of the Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo-Jusuf Kalla administration. BPS released economic growth figures for the second quarter of this year, shown at 4.67 percent, slightly lower when compared to the first quarter figure of 4.7 percent.

In the third quarter, the economic growth was recorded at 4.73 percent, a slight increase compared to the second quarter. However, according to BPS, the figure was lower compared to the corresponding period last year, which stood at 4.92 percent.

Based on BPS data, the numbers of underprivileged people in Indonesia have increased. In March this year, BPS recorded 28.59 million underprivileged people, 11.22 percent of the entire population.

Kadin vice chair Shinta Kamdani said that if the government wished entrepreneurs to invest in the manufacturing industry, they would need to provide incentives. '€œThis could be in the form of tax allowance and tax holiday,'€ said Shinta.

Since September, the government has released six economic stimulus packages as part of its efforts to revive the economy amid global economic downturn, which include fiscal incentives and the streamlining of licensing procedures for a wide range of industries.

Meanwhile, outgoing Kadin chairman Suryo Bambang Sulisto said there needs to be synergy between the business world and the government so as to realize businesspeople'€™s expectations. The interest rate policy is currently regarded by entrepreneurs as being too high.

Suryo cited Bank Indonesia'€™s interest rate of 7.5 percent as the highest and should be lowered. The government can also help entrepreneurs by not setting high interest rates for banks.

'€œKadin has proposed for the government to spearhead the move and not to ask for bank interest rates that are too high,'€ he explained.

The 7th Kadin national congress, taking place from Monday to Tuesday, is the highest decision-making forum in the organization, in which participants will pick the chairman for the 2015-2020 period. Two contenders, former trade minister Rachmat Gobel and Kadin vice chairman for banking and financial affairs Rosan P. Roeslani, have expressed an interest in the top post. Both of them will run head-to-head, each looking to obtain a total of 132 votes.
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