Indonesia’s president-elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has wasted no time in outlining his priorities after winning the country’s closest and most bitterly fought election.

Cutting down on the nation’s bureaucracy — notorious for its complex and lengthy processes — and aiming for a growth pace Indonesia has not seen since before the ’90s would be his focus at the start of his five-year term.

“It gives me a headache hearing about how it may take two or even six years to obtain a business permit,” Mr Widodo said during a visit to Bisnis newspaper’s office in Jakarta. “I will work on solving these problems that are hindering our nation’s development.”

Looking ahead to his agenda after taking office in October, Mr Widodo told Bloomberg that a robust economy will be key to projecting a revitalised Indonesia in the region. “When our economy grows more than 7 per cent, I am very confident for Indonesia to play a role in the world, not only in the Association of South-east Asian Nations Economic Community but also in international forums,” he said.

… “We have to be realistic … with control of only 37 per cent of Parliament, he will face a monumental challenge to win budget approval, getting laws passed and moving policies through the legislative process,” said Assoc Prof Leonard Sebastian at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.