IMF upbeat on RI economy<\/p>\n
TOKYO (Dow Jones): The managing director of the International
\nMonetary Fund Horst Koehler expects the Indonesian economy to
\nexceed the IMF's growth forecast and expand by 4.5 percent
\nthrough 2000, the president of Indonesia said on Thursday at a
\nseminar in Tokyo.<\/p>\n
\"Mr. Koehler said we could exceed our current estimate of
\neconomic growth. He told me 3 percent-4 percent is not enough,
\nand thinks as much as 4.5 percent is possible this year,\" said
\nAbdurrahman Wahid in reference to a meeting with the new IMF
\nchief in Jakarta on Monday.<\/p>\n
The IMF currently estimates that the Indonesian economy will
\ngrow about 4 percent or slightly more during 2000.<\/p>\n
Turning to the Indonesian government's own forecast,
\nAbdurrahman, more popularly called Gus Dur, said a 5 percent rate
\nof expansion in 2000 is attainable.<\/p>\n
\"If we are lucky we could reach 5.5 percent,\" Gus Dur said,
\n\"but I think that's too risky to believe.\"<\/p>\n
Gus Dur conceded that one of the factors blocking economic
\nexpansion was political unrest which has led to many foreign
\ninvestors withdrawing funds from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
In response, the government plans to present an \"economic
\nframework\" to investors \"after August,\" he said.<\/p>\n
At the same time, however, the Indonesian President expressed
\nhopes that the Indonesian economy could evolve to become more
\nself-sustainable and less dependent on overseas capital.<\/p>\n
\"We must change our tactical goals so that we are not relying
\non foreign investment as such, but export more,\" he said. \"We are
\nexporting more now and that is alleviating the unemployment
\nsituation.\"<\/p>\n
Gus Dur said he is looking forward to holding bilateral talks
\nwith Australian Prime Minister John Howard to help further
\npolitical stability within the region and to discuss the issue of
\nEast Timor.<\/p>\n
Such talks might include a visit to Australia in the near
\nfuture, he said. \"I will do that in a short time despite the fact
\nthat many people (within Indonesia) object to a visit to
\nAustralia.\"<\/p>\n
Gus Dur didn't mention, however, whether he will meet Howard
\nin Tokyo although both leaders are in Japan for the funeral of
\nformer Japanese prime minister Keizo Obuchi later Thursday.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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