Jakarta (ANTARA) - Incumbent presidential candidate Joko Widodo (Jokowi) vowed to create new economic growth centers as part of efforts to achieve equitable justice in the country.

"We want to create new economic growth centers both in the form of small industrial estates and special economic zones," Jokowi said while delivering his vision and mission at the fifth round of presidential debate in Jakarta on Saturday.

Citing an example, he said the development of special economic zones in the tourism sector may have an impact on various handicraft goods in villages for which he is determined to strive for rural economic self-reliance.

According to the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), the realization of foreign investment throughout 2018 reached Rp392.7 trillion, down 8.8 percent from Rp430.5 trillion a year earlier.

BKPM Chief Thomas Lembong said the declining amount of realized foreign investment is in keeping with the downward trend of foreign direct investment (FDI) which according to UNCTAD reached 20 percent

The decline resulted from a negative sentiment towards the escalation of the US-China trade war.

"The data is consistent with the FDI data at Bank Indonesia which shows a decline," Lembong said in Jakarta on January 30.