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All aboard the omnibus! Jokowi tells regions to clear regulatory road for investors
“Cut [the regulations] so that you, ladies and gentlemen, can work faster, more nimbly and more flexibly amid changing national and global situations,” the President said.
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Cutting the red tape: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (‘right’) strikes a gong as Vice President Ma’ruf Amin (‘second left’), National Development Planning Minister Suharso Monoarfa (‘left’) and Home Minister Tito Karnavian look on during the opening of the 2020-2024 National Development Planning Conference at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday. The President has called on regional government leaders to deregulate to attract investment. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has urged regional administrations across the country to join the central government’s deregulation push by drafting omnibus bylaws to cut through sprawling regional regulations that have deterred investors.
The government has been drafting at least three omnibus bills, namely on job creation, taxation and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), as part of its structural reform agenda to draw more investment into the country.
“The regional administrations can also revise bylaws that drag down governors, regents and mayors,” Jokowi told his Cabinet and regional leaders. He said omnibus bylaws would provide the legal umbrella to do so. The remarks were made during the National Development Planning Conference (Musrenbangnas) 2020-2024 on Monday at the State Palace.
“Cut [the regulations] so that you, ladies and gentlemen, can work faster, more nimbly and more flexibly amid changing national and global situations.”
Such a move was necessary, Jokowi said, so that executives at both the central and regional levels would not be held back by the country’s sprawling regulations, which could comprise up to 42,000 rules.
Read also: Reforms to boost economy taking shape
Jokowi’s administration is making a priority of courting investment to perk up economic growth, which has slowed to its lowest level in more than two years: 5.02 percent in the third quarter of this year.
