Widodo targets rapid economic growth to boost Indonesia's standing

President-elect Joko Widodo says he's aiming for a pace of economic Indonesia hasn't seen since before the 1990s Asian financial crisis.

"We must address shortcomings in infrastructure, manufacturing, and then we need to invest more in strong human capital," Widodo, known as Jokowi, 53, said in an interview. "When our economy grows more than 7 per cent, I am very confident" it would strengthen Indonesia's role in international forums, he said.

Southeast Asia's largest economy could achieve such an expansion in two years, the Jakarta governor said. While Indonesia has lured record overseas investment in recent years, supply bottlenecks and limited public transport have held back its potential.

"We must be realistic," Widodo said. The one-time head of a furniture business has pledged to curb fuel subsidies that have sapped funds needed for infrastructure, and to rein in corruption, in part by moving to an online tax system.

Asia's fifth-biggest economy saw growth slow to 5.21 per cent in the first quarter, the weakest pace since 2009, and hasn't seen a pace of 7 per cent or more on an annual basis since the years before the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis - the turmoil of which helped bring down dictator Suharto.

Widodo secured 53.15 per cent of votes in the July 9 election, according to the General Elections Commission, beating Prabowo Subianto, a 62-year-old former army commando who was once married to Suharto's daughter. Prabowo claimed 46.85 per cent. The contest divided Indonesia between those looking for a more liberal democracy and those nostalgic for a leader who projects strength and decisiveness.