Seoul (Antara Bali) - Around 1,300 Indonesians attended a meeting with President Joko Widodo at Crystal Ballroom, Lotte Hotel, Seoul, South Korea, on Sunday evening to the surprise of the President who is on a state visit to that country.
"I was surprised to see a lot of attendees. Usually there are only between 300 and 600," he said in his speech at the Diaspora forum.
President Jokowi as he is also called at the meeting explained about what the government is currently doing to improve the countrys competitiveness at the international level especially ASEAN following the implementation of ASEAN Economic Community early in 2015 such as improving the ease of doing business and infrastructure.
"We are now not Java-centered but Indonesia-centered. The development must be evenly spread," he said.
He referred as an example the development of a Trans-Sulawesi railway line and the Trans-Sumatra toll road.
He said he monitored the implementation of the development projects closely and he would not hesitate to replace ministers who were slow in carrying out the projects.
He emphasized the importance of connecting islands in the country through seaport and airport development for logistics shipment as well as human transportation.
He said the government had also started developing border regions such as in Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara and Papua.
The Indonesian ambassador to South Korea John A Prasetio said that some of the attendees came from Busan, a city in the south.
"My conclusion is the citizens have strong spirit to meet with their president and I am glad as it shows that they love their president," he said.
President Jokowi arrived at Seoul airport at around 17.05 local and immediately proceeded to the meeting upon arrival.
He is scheduled to hold a business meeting on Monday and also a meeting with South Korean President Park Geun-hye.(WDY)
