Corruption-eradication drive 'key' to investor confidence<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government must continue strengthening Indonesia's economic
\nfundamentals if it wants to sustain average economic growth of 5
\npercent per year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says.<\/p>\n
The fund's Asia and Pacific department chief, Odd Per Brekk,
\nsaid on Thursday among the items the government should prioritize
\nwere keeping inflation at a manageable level and attracting
\nforeign direct investment (FDI) to the country.<\/p>\n
\"The government must improve its fiscal policies and its
\ngovernance in related sectors,\" he said during a hearing with
\nHouse of Representative Commission XI on financial affairs.<\/p>\n
The meeting with the legislators was held to exchange views
\nand assessments of the country's economy.<\/p>\n
Another issue the government should concentrate, Per Brekk
\nsaid, is stopping corruption, which is crucial for reestablishing
\nthe country's credibility among foreign investors.<\/p>\n
Since taking office in October last year, President Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono has repeatedly said the anticorruption drive is
\none of his administration's top priorities, although critics say
\nlittle has actually been done to stop the practice.<\/p>\n
\"Poverty eradication and reducing the unemployment rate should
\nalso be among the government's priorities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Per Brekk also said the banking sector should be improved,
\nwith the central bank being key to establishing strong monetary
\npolicies for the country's economic sustainability and
\nestablishing a healthy banking industry to ensure development
\nfinancing from FDI.<\/p>\n
The government is targeting gross domestic product growth of
\n5.5 percent this year, up from 5.13 percent last year.<\/p>\n
The IMF has forecast the same growth rate for Indonesia's
\neconomy.<\/p>\n
Over the next three years, the government hopes to achieve an
\naverage economic growth of 6 percent per year, with that figure
\nreaching 7.2 percent by 2008.<\/p>\n
Indonesia needs at least 6 percent economic growth just to
\nabsorb the more than two million new workers who enter the job
\nmarket every year.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/corruption-eradication-drive-key-to-investor-confidence-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}