Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago with hundreds of different ethnic and cultural groups speaking hundreds of languages. The national motto of "Unity in Diversity" (Bhinneka Tunggal Ika) is something the country is very rightly proud of and it is a concept that dominated President Jokowi's most recent visit to Bali.

Jokowi used his time in Indonesia's tourism hub to explain a different perspective of why he sees economic growth as an important tool to help maintain the country's diverse and unique cultural identity.

In a public lecture at the Indonesian Arts Institute (ISI) in Denpasar and before he opened the 40th Bali Arts Parade, Jokowi said the wealth of Indonesia is no longer to be found in its vast natural resources but rather in the country's arts and culture.

"Our DNA is our art and our culture. We have 714 tribes with different cultural and artistic features, customs and traditions. So we have 714 sources of energy and inspiration."

He went on to explain the current rapid development of infrastructre, such as toll roads, bridges, airports, ports, and roads, which all industries, including property and real estate have a vested interest in, is not only for economic development but also important for the nation's cultural identity.

There are "17 thousand islands, 514 districts and 34 provinces, so infrastructure development must be seen as a way to bring our different cultures together," he said.

He encouraged lecturers and students of ISI to continue to be creative, not only in producing works of art, but also to find inspiration to develop entrepreneurship through Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and to take advantage of various cultures as creative business capital.

Jokowi had earlier announced the government was also reducing the Income Tax (PPh) for SME's to just 0.5 percent as a way to kick-start smaller businesses and encourage stronger local economies and used the Bali Arts Parade as a platform to socialize the implications and opportunities.

Sources: Antara News, Tribun News, Berita Bali, Detik Finance

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