JAKARTA. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has called on environmental permits and Hinder Ordonantie (HO) or nuisance permits, to be 'harmonized' with the central government’s authority, in a bid to improve the country's business climate.

The President said he wanted to see a harmonization of "redundant" permits, such as building permits, construction permits, environmental permits - particularly in industrial areas - and HOs.

"I have ordered the harmonization of environmental permits and Hinder Ordonantie permits issued by local governments," he said at a limited meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday.

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The harmonization of licensing procedures, he continued, would not reduce the government's role in protecting the environment. “The goal is to increase efficiency and remove obstacles to business and investment," Jokowi said.

Indonesia was ranked 109th among the 189 countries surveyed in the 2016 Ease of Doing Business survey, lagging far behind other ASEAN countries such as Singapore at first, Malaysia 18th, Brunei 84th, Vietnam 90th and the Philippines at 103th.

"We are 109th. As such, we need to take immediate corrective measures; we need to revamp all aspects of licensing," Jokowi stated. (Ayomi Amindoni)