VP: economic growth of over 7% possible with hard work, determination

Padang, West Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Vice President M Jusuf Kalla has expressed optimism that Inndonesia`s economic growth in the next few years will exceed seven percent if supported by determination, hard work and unity of all of the nation`s components.

"Next year, our economic growth rate should not be less than those of India and Vietnam, namely around eight percent," the vice president said here on Saturday when officially opening a meeting of Minang businessmen.

According to Kalla, currently Indonesia had all prerequisites to make progress as the country was free from conflicts, had abundant natural resources and enjoying political stability.

"The most important thing is unity, determination and hard work. The (political) elite should not fight each other," he said.

A high economic growth was necessary to help lower the poverty rate, he said. However, the government needed the support of the private sector and businessmen to reach a high economic growth, he said.

"Therefore, the government keeps on encouraging the business sector. The spirit of entrepreneurship should be continuously developed," Jusuf Kalla said before the Minang businessmen.

The vice president cited Japan as an example of a country whch had been defeated in a world war but had been able to rise again and develop quickly. So had Germany. He said the two countries succeeded because they had very strong spirit to make progress.

"Japan was defeated in the world war, however, it rose again and progressed. Germany was also beaten in the world war, but it later also made rapid progress. We were never defeated in a war, but we lost in morale, so that we often ask for assistance and loans from other countries," the vice president said.

Therefore, starting now , Indonesia should stop asking for assistance and depending on other countries, Jusuf Kalla said. Indonesians should be able to carry out national development using their own brains and ability, he said.

"We can achieve all that with our spirit of independence. No country can make progress without having spirit," he said.