Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo has called for bringing about improvement in the countrys Ease of Doing Business, taking it from the 109th position currently, to below 40, out of 189 countries.

"Yesterday, I conveyed my request to the head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) to take the ranking to below 40," he said while opening a limited cabinet meeting on the EODB issue at his office here on Wednesday.

He said people need not ask how that would be achieved as it would be the task of the ministers concerned, the BKPM, governors and state enterprises.

He said he hoped to be always kept informed about any breakthroughs that are achieved by officials at central as well as regional levels.

"How that would be done is not my business as that is the task of the ministers, governors, the BKPM and the state-owned companies. I only set the target and later receive details of how it would be achieved," he said.

Indonesia has been ranked 109th out of 189 countries, according to a survey conducted by the World Bank, with regards to the EODB, while it was ranked 120th a year before.

"If this trend continues, it would not us long to catch up with Singapore, which is ranked first or Malaysia which is ranked 18th," he said.

President Joko Widodo said he would continue inspections in this regard, to see the breakthroughs made.

He said he wished improvements could be made on all 10 aspects of the EODB, covering Ease of Doing Business, licensing on building permits, property registration, electricity, tax payment, international trade, credit access, minority investor protection, contract fulfillment and settlement of bankruptcy cases.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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