President delivers scientific oration at Brawijaya University

Malang, E Java (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono delivered scientific oration to mark the 46th anniversary of Brawijaya University (Unbra) in Malang, East Java, on Tuesday. 

In his 45-minute oration on "Indonesia`s Economic Development in the Globalization Era of the 21st Century," the president explained that the country`s economic instability after the 1998 crisis was due to a change in the political system. 

According to the head of state, the change in the political system increased the ratio of debt against national income, the poverty rate, fuel oil prices, and environmental degradation. 

Yudhoyono said the beginning of his government was marked by natural disasters, instability in fuel oil prices, and the threat of global financial crisis. 

"If you ask which year was difficult during my presidency, I would say all years were hard because we continued to face challenges in addition to the need to cope with the impact of the crisis that happened 10 years ago," Yudhoyono said. 

But he added that the mandate and commitment as state leader to improve the people`s welfare should continue to be carried out. 

Commenting on the global economic system, the president said all countries around the world should unite to overcome the world`s economic imbalances. 

"The great imbalances should be corrected. Although we cannot do it all at once, we have to be serious about it," the president said, adding that Indonesia`s economic system so far had been able to withstand the threat of global financial crisis. 

However, the head of state said there was much homework that had to be done such as expansion of job opportunities and boosting economic growth, food and energy resilience, and government quality. 

In his oration before about 400 Brawijaya students and faculty members, President Yudhoyono appreciated a letter from the president of Brawijaya University students executive board. 

On the occasion the head of state was accompanied by Minister/State Secretary Hatta Rajasa, Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi, National Education Minister Bambang Soedibyo, and presidential spokesmen Andi Malarangeng and Dino Patti Djalal.

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