CGI meeting should proceed as planned: WB<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): World Bank managing director Sven Sandstrom has
\nurged Indonesia's major donors to continue their financial
\nsupport for the country at their upcoming annual meeting.<\/p>\n
Sandstrom said on Monday the meeting of the Consultative Group
\non Indonesia (CGI) must proceed as scheduled next month, despite
\ncalls from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to postpone the
\ngathering until the election of a new president.<\/p>\n
\"I think the money should continue to be disbursed and the
\nprogram should not be halted awaiting the presidential election,\"
\nSandstrom said at the State Palace after meeting with President
\nB.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
\"I believe the CGI meeting should take place as scheduled...
\nand I think the donor community is prepared to move ahead.\"<\/p>\n
Sandstrom is in Jakarta for a meeting with government
\nofficials ahead of the July 27 CGI meeting in Paris. The World
\nBank chairs the CGI grouping.<\/p>\n
Sandstrom also met with popular opposition leader Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, whose Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) continues its commanding lead in the provisional vote
\nresults.<\/p>\n
Several NGOs grouped in the International NGO Forum on
\nIndonesian Development (INFID) have called on the government and
\nthe World Bank to delay the donors meeting until a new government
\nis formed in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The country held its landmark elections on June 7. Newly
\nelected members of the House of Representatives, plus a group of
\nappointed representatives, will elect the country's new president
\nin November.<\/p>\n
INFID also urged donors to put the issue of rampant
\ncorruption, including the abuse of international aid in the
\ncountry, on the meeting's agenda.<\/p>\n
Sandstrom said that continuity in loan commitments would be a
\npositive contribution for recovery efforts in the crisis-hit
\neconomy.<\/p>\n
He said the economic recovery programs had wide support and
\nincluded the backing of the major political parties.<\/p>\n
Asked to comment on the rupiah, Sandstrom said: \"The rupiah
\nwill continue to strengthen, that's our expectation. The
\ncontinuity in the reform program and also the very successful
\noutcome of the election process has helped in terms of
\ncredibility and confidence in the economy.<\/p>\n
\"The rupiah continues to strengthen along the line of the
\neconomy as a whole and we find this very encouraging and we will
\ncontinue with our support.\"<\/p>\n
Deputy for international cooperation at the National
\nDevelopment Planning Board (Bappenas) Budhy Tjahjati said last
\nweek that based on \"initial talks with multilateral and bilateral
\ndonors\", Indonesia might receive US$4.72 billion in loan
\ncommitments at the upcoming CGI meeting.<\/p>\n
This is much less than the almost $8 billion in aid pledges
\nreceived in 1998 by the government.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry
\nGinandjar Kartasasmita had earlier indicated that the country
\nmight not be able to obtain similar loan commitments in the
\ncurrent year due to the already heavy exposure of particular
\ndonors to Indonesia. (rei\/prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cgi-meeting-should-proceed-as-planned-wb-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}