♪ haslinda: hello. i'm haslinda amin. i first spoke to joko widodo four years ago when he was the governor of jakarta. and then again and again the following year.

now he is taking me to --, where they plan to boost the economy, making it one of the strongest in the world. this is "indonesia: jokowi's vision." ♪ haslinda: indonesia's president joko widodo has vowed to remake every inch. this is one of 10 areas pinpointed for terrorism, and that means infrastructure like airports and roads, including some of the 1000 kilometers of national tollroad promised. adding to the challenge, the fact that indonesia sprawls across some 17,000 islands and is home to several live volcanoes, including one where people were recently re-house

d after an eruption. jokowi has implemented a raft of business reforms. over the next 30 minutes, we check in on the progress of his vision. three years into your presidency, do you think you have delivered on your promise to bring growth and prosperity to this nation of 250 million people? president widodo: indonesia is a big country with a total population of 250 million people. we want, of course, all leaders would like, to bring prosperity to the people. our economic growth, i think it is good. it is slightly above 5%. a country of this size with such growth, i think it is good.

but indeed the biggest problem is slowing global growth, so the expansion of our exports is limited, and secondly commodity prices are declining. prices are declining. so this is affecting growth in indonesia a bit. haslinda: 5% growth last year, slightly above 5% this year. that is the estimate, but when you came to power, you were targeting 7% growth. that seems to be elusive. is it fair to say we can forget about 7% growth now? is it unrealistic? president widodo: i said earlier it is because of the global economy that is declining, however we will keep pursuing it because what is economic growth related to? expansion of jobs, improvement in people's income. i am sure when the global

economy normalizes and improves indonesia's economy will grow as well because our markets will be bigger. that is our target. haslinda: when we last spoke two years ago, you wanted interest rates to fall, fall, fall, your words, and fall again you say. you cut rates, the central bank cut rates six times last year and again in august. our interest rates where you want them to be? president widodo: we cannot interfere with bank indonesia, indonesia's central bank. so we can only see how we can ensure inflation is at a low level. in 2015, our inflation was 3.35%. also16, it was around 3.3% . in 2017 it is still below 4%. it means if inflation is low, bank interest rates should be

able to go down, but that is not my territory. that is the territory of bank indonesia, the central bank. haslinda: but would you like rates to go lower than 4.25%? right now? president widodo: of course, as a former businessman i would be happy if interest rates would go down. all businessmen are always happy if bank interest rates go down, down, down. why? it means costs will continue to be lower, and they will have can have better product competitiveness against other countries. of course, everyone is happy. businessmen are happy. there is business expansion. it means an expansion in the of the labor market. why not? is prettythe rupiah weak, and investors are concerned about weakness.

should they be? is that a reflection in how investors are not buying into the indonesia growth story? president widodo: indonesia has fourthfrom eight to position as an investment destination according to the united nations conference on investment and development. secondly, our global competitiveness is also getting much better. previously we were 41st, this year we jumped to 36th. it means every year we are always improving. then, for ease of doing business, we moved from 120 to 106. 90 firste in 90 first

91st place. we are always improving. the investment climate in indonesia it always been a better. investors come because the investment climate is always getting better. haslinda: having said that, if we take a look at what has been happening, investors are concerned about the growth story, about the rupiah. what are they getting wrong? president widodo: i think it is normal that portfolio investment comes and goes. the most important thing is that the composite index is rising. take a look. it continues to rise. i'm still optimistic investors still see indonesia as the best investment destination, one of the best choices. haslinda: yet. yet, companies like ford, exxon mobil, they are pulling out of indonesia.

they do not want to renew the contract because the contract is not working in its favor. president widodo: that doesn't show whether indonesia is a good investment destination or not. haslinda: why aren't you worried that these big companies -- president widodo: i know. sometimes there are problems outside of our control. it could be the global economy, or they want to see other countries that may be more profitable. once again, we always try to improve our investment climate. and i am still very optimistic that indonesia is seen as one of the best investment destinations. ♪ haslinda: indonesia's joko

widodo wants more visitors to enjoy its natural beauty. he is telling us what is being done to make the area more accessible and open to foreign investment. ♪

it so important to you? president widodo: it is my big dream. it to be the new bali in indonesia. haslinda: why? you are a have bali? president widodo: because of the potential of a very beautiful area. it should be developed into a new tourism destination. haslinda: it is one of 10 locations you have identified? president widodo: yes. this is one of the 10 new bali's we are developing. we will build the structure and , then we will increase promotion. haslinda: when i came here about maybe seven or eight years ago,

road.k six hours by it was very difficult. so with all your infrastructure in place, how easy will it be to get here? president widodo: we have built an airport, expanded the terminal. there were no planes serving here, but now there are five flights a day. we hope this will continue to grow because there are many toba.sts who visit lake tov infrastructure is very important. now, a flight from the dan to to lake toba only takes 25 minutes. there is also a flight from jakarta. haslinda: pretty ambitious, pretty big plan you have. tourists account for about 20%

of gdp. how soon will you get there? president widodo: well, for at least four to five years, we will continue to focus on improvement because beautiful places like this should be made useful. likewise, the local culture should also be drawn upon to benefit the community. haslinda: is it difficult to make a dream a reality? president widodo: start with good infrastructure then , then improved promotion, and third we will promote things related to the arts and culture. ♪

widodo: indonesia is a big country. all leaders must want to bring prosperity to the people. our biggest vision is to work on the foundation. this is very important, upgrading the infrastructure, fixing the infrastructure, and building the infrastructure. in the next stage, we want to build our human resources. that is our focus. haslinda: you have always maintained that you attract foreign investment. you want to open up the country to foreign investors, yet some say that you have limited implemented protectionist policies. if you speak to the u.s. trade officials, they will say there are concerned about some of the policies implemented, especially measures imposed on agricultural products like corn.

president widodo: well, of course, indonesia's national interest must remain the number one priority, but to say indonesia is protectionist, it is not. i say indonesia is open. indonesia welcomes visitors because i have said we want openness and competitiveness. that it is. so, we have opened a lot to foreign investment. we have opened, i think it is not one, two, or three, but it many. it shows that indonesia is open. haslinda: what reforms can we expect over the next two years? what will be your priority? which sectors? president widodo: we will keep opening more sectors for foreigners to invest their capital, their investment in indonesia. it is true that our concentration is still related

related to those in the manufacturing industry and cinema. why not? later the creative industry. i think there are so many. and what is also important is the issue of tourism and travel. haslinda: which country is becoming important to indonesia in terms of investment? since you came to power, china has tripled its direct investment into indonesia to the tune of about $2.7 billion. is china becoming a very important partner for you? president widodo: all are important. america is important. japan is important. china is important. south korea is important. the middle east is important. europe is important. all of them.

we welcome all countries. we are not prioritizing certain countries. no. but actually, what we want right now is investment in labor-intensive industry and making raw material into semi -finished products or finished products. that is our direction. haslinda: is there concerns about the amount of chinese money in the country? people have come out to say they are concerned about that, concerned about chinese labor in the country. president widodo: it is a business to business matter. indonesian businessmen connect with japanese businessmen. indonesian businessmen

with chinese businessmen. indonesian businessman with middle east businessman. why not? go ahead. they will make their calculations, and if it is profitable, they will surely come. ♪ haslinda: it is a nation of more than 200 million muslims. indonesia's president joko widodo talk to us about religion two and politics and looking ahead to the 2019 elections, we asked jokowi if he is planning to run again. ♪

♪ haslinda: one of the issues that recently cropped up is the religious intolerance. one of the latest reports suggests that there has been an increase of 50% when it comes to religious intolerance. is that something that keeps you up at night? president widodo: no. i think those figures need to be seen in more detail. because islam in indonesia is a tolerant islam, a pluralist islam, a modern islam.

i think people should see that, that there will be small problems. i think a country the size of indonesia with total population of 250 million people, 17,000 islands, 714 ethnic groups, it is a huge country. haslinda: and yet despite the fact that moderate islam is in indonesia's dna, we saw religion play a big part in the jakarta elections. surely it must be a concern. surely it is something you need to look at. president widodo: that is not a religious issue. it was a political issue. it is different. the issue in the jakarta governor election was an issue of politics, not an issue of religion. islam in indonesia is a tolerant

islam, a pluralistic islam, a modern islam, a moderate islam. haslinda: there have been suggestions that perhaps the religious schools may be producing some of those people who end up going to syria, for instance, to join the islamic state. and if you take a look at the data and statistics, there are about 1000 of them, and 500 have gone to syria to fight for the islamic state. what are your views on that? president widodo: the muslim population in indonesia is a approximately 220 million. if some 400 people to syria, that is only how many percent? out of the 220 million muslims in indonesia, it is fractional.

haslinda: it only takes one person to cause devastation. president widodo: even though it is only one or two people, it is still important for us to do what we call a de-radicalization program. we give a good understanding of true religious value. we give them a good understanding of the national values. our approach is hard power with legal enforcement and law. we also have soft power with a religious, sociocultural approach. we will continue doing it. haslinda: so you don't see a risk of those returning from syria, no risk to indonesia, no risk to southeast asia? president widodo: i think no. haslinda: so we can sleep well

at night? president widodo: please do sleep well. haslinda: are you working to isure that the risk eliminated? how are you ensuring -- president widodo: we are implementing de-radicalization programs. both programs go hand in hand. we have clear programs. haslinda: what role do you see indonesia playing five or 10 years down the road given that it is the largest economy in southeast asia, one of the largest in asia? president widodo: yes, if the aforementioned development of infrastructure and human resources can be completed well, i think that is when indonesia asean, asia,ole in and the world.

my concentration is still on domestic issues to fix and improve. haslinda: three years into your areidency, two years to go, you planning to run for the next election? president widodo: i am now just concentrating on the job, on the task people have entrusted me to do, monitoring infrastructure, controlling infrastructure, checking the indonesia health card, checking the indonesia smart card, and checking rural funds. they must be checked. must be controlled. regarding the upcoming presidential election, i will leave it to the people. haslinda: isn't it true given though given the massive challenges you are facing now in the massive projects you are implementing, another five years

would not hurt? president widodo: if i stay in the position of working as planned, i will focus on that. we expect the programs to be completed, but if they are not finished, the programs can be continued in the next period by whomever the ministers are. haslinda: what do you think has been your biggest achievement and your biggest disappointment? president widodo: firstly, switching subsidies from petrol to productive sectors such as infrastructure, education programs, health programs, and programs for disadvantaged families. that is the first thing. secondly, tax amnesty.

in this tax amnesty declaration was reported around $370 billion. that is a very big number. it is around 38% of our gdp. so we hope that later our tax-base can be bigger. haslinda: in terms of political challenges, what are the biggest ones for you? president widodo: right now, all parties are concentrated on the upcoming 2019 presidential election. well, go ahead. for me, i will be concentrating on work. ♪ haslinda: thank you. ♪

♪ julie: coming up on "bloomberg best," the stories that shaped the week in business around the world. decisive days for central banks. the bank of japan sticks to its guns. the bank of england finally hikes. and the federal reserve will go forward under new leadership. >> i'm committed to making decisions with objectivity, based on the best available evidence. >> i think it would be a mistake to push jerome powell around. julie: the gop unveils their long-awaited tax plan. >> this is a opportunity to make tax reform a reality. julie c