Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and a delegation of the Indonesian Businessmen's Association (Apindo) held a discussion on efforts to strengthen the national economy.

"What I want to accentuate is to continue to work hard to improve the economy in our country," the president remarked at the Merdeka Palace, here, Thursday.

While speaking to the Apindo delegation, led by the association's Chairman, Haryadi Sukamdani, Jokowi remarked that a day earlier, on June 12, he had also received chairmen of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and the Association of Young Indonesian Businessmen (Hipmi) in a bid to seek views on ways to drive the economy.

The president expressed optimism that the meetings with businessmen would yield inputs and breakthroughs for ushering in economic improvement.

The country's economy should be boosted to strengthen investment and exports, he emphasized.

The head of state added that the trade deficit would be reduced if the government and businessmen were to cooperate optimally.

"We are a large nation, with rich natural and human resources, which I believe could become huge assets in future," Jokowi stated.