Smes contribute to national economic growth

Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA News) - The presence of various small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia will contribute to positive national economic growth, a businessman said.

Former Young Indonesian Businessmen Association (Hipmi) chairman Sandiaga S Uno said here on Sunday that the presence of SMEs across the country could make Indonesia the world`s fifth largest economy in the future.

"The Indonesian economy at present is ranked the 16th in the world and in 2050 Indonesia could be the world`s fifth largest economy, " Sandiago said at a fast breaking function with the East Java branch of Hipmi on Sunday evening.

On the occasion he said that in the period January-July 2011 the national economy had grown by 6.5 percent with the gross domestic product (GDP) reaching US$700 billion.

He said it was a promising achievement for the national economy, and with such a figure Indonesia`s economic growth would be able to exceed that of the Netherlands.

According to him, the contribution to national economic growth was dominated by small and medium enterprises, and therefore all existing policies should support the SME`s economic condition.

Sandiago also called on members of Hipmi in East Java to become Indonesia`s economic cadres to improve the province`s economic growth in the next five years.

"Hipmi members in East Java should do something to improve the province`s economic growth, and spread the spirit of entrepreneurship in various universities," he said. (*)