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NU requests government's help to boost its business
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (center) and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Said Aqil Siroj (left) leave the venue of the Nahdliyin Employers Association (HPN) meeting in Jagakarsa, Jakarta on May 5. (JP/Anton Hermansyah)
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ndonesia’s largest Islamic organization, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), through its Nahdliyin Employers Association (HPN), has asked the government to help boost its businesses during the association's first meeting in Jakarta on Friday, which was attended by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
The association currently has 305 members, which are mostly small-to medium enterprises, said HPN chairman Abdul Kholik, who called on the president to help NU's entrepreneurs partner with state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
"We organized the meeting with our own funds. The HPN name isn’t high-profile enough yet to get a sponsorship from the SOEs. Hopefully, we will be a good partner for SOEs," Kholik.
"No entrepreneurs in Indonesia can improve [significantly] without the [help] of the government," he added.
Jokowi welcomed the idea, promising to arrange a meeting between the HPN, ministries and SOEs.
"Within two weeks, I will arrange the meeting between HPN and the ministries, who have many projects. But you have to follow procedure," Jokowi said in response, which received laughter from the audience.
Jokowi also promised to help the HPN meet with conglomerates.
"If we [the government] don’t do this, I will receive complaints from Pak Kiai," he joked, referring to NU chairman Said Aqil Siroj, who also attended the event. (bbn)
