President predicts improvement in 2001<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): After surviving a tough spell in 2000, President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid said on Sunday he believed the new year would
\nbring Indonesia more blessings, particularly on the economic
\nfront.<\/p>\n
\"I look ahead to the future with guarded optimism that we will
\nsoon overcome our infrastructure problems. The economy has begun
\nto revive and we will refine its rhythm in 2001,\" the President
\nsaid in a year-end speech broadcast nationwide.<\/p>\n
\"In my opinion, we will make big progress in the year 2001.\"<\/p>\n
Gus Dur, as the President is better known, said his government
\nwould improve the infrastructure, security, the bureaucracy and
\ntax regulations, as well as boosting exports, which will remain
\nthe backbone of the economy as they have since the financial
\ncrisis struck in 1997.<\/p>\n
The President said the economic crisis had shifted the
\ngovernment's priority from seeking foreign investment to
\nenhancing export volume and value.<\/p>\n
The country's total exports reached US$50 billion in 2000,
\nsurpassing the projected $38 billion.<\/p>\n
Security fears have been blamed for sluggish foreign
\ninvestment in the country, which saw continued violence in Aceh
\nand the Malukus, as well as sporadic clashes in other
\nterritories. Bomb attacks in nine cities across the archipelago
\non Christmas Eve dealt the nation its latest blow.<\/p>\n
But the President insisted more foreign investors would pour
\ninto the country and there were rays of hope seen. These include
\nKuwait's interest in investing in off-shore oil exploration on
\nSeram island in Maluku, and Malaysia's investment in palm oil
\nplantations.<\/p>\n
The upward revision of economic growth for 2000 from between 3
\npercent and 4 percent to up to 5 percent has encouraged the
\ngovernment of brighter prospects, the President said.<\/p>\n
To support the efforts to achieve the country's goals,
\nAbdurrahman pledged to promote information technology in remote
\nareas.<\/p>\n
\"The technology will be applied in a rational way, by not
\npushing for an exaggerated use of computers because this will
\ntouch only a small percentage of the people in the country,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The government, he said, will instead rely on telephones and
\ntelevisions to bring information technology to as many people as
\npossible across the archipelago, which is home to 210 million
\npeople, making it the world's fourth most populous country.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said that without ignoring the importance of the
\nEnglish language, information technology would be transmitted in
\nBahasa Indonesia to maintain national identity in the wake of
\nglobalization and the implementation of regional autonomy.<\/p>\n
\"Due to the greater autonomy and the transfer of authority
\nfrom the central government to local governments, there will be a
\ntendency to restrict key administrative positions to natives.
\nThis regionalism trend should be compensated for by strengthening
\nnational identity through the use of Bahasa Indonesia,\" the
\nPresident said.<\/p>\n
On disintegration threats, Abdurrahman expressed optimism that
\nsecurity problems in Aceh, Irian Jaya, also known as Papua, and
\nthe Malukus would be resolved.<\/p>\n
The President said the process of settling these problems \"is
\nreaching its final stage\" through negotiations between
\nIndonesians, without foreign mediation.<\/p>\n
\"Our Papuan friends, including those who are undergoing police
\ninvestigation, will complete the negotiations with us in the near
\nfuture,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also asserted the majority of the separatist rebels in Aceh
\nhad shown interest in continuing peace talks.<\/p>\n
\"They are all our brothers, of one nation, not other people. I
\nbelieve they will go to the negotiating table and reach an
\nagreement with us.\" (byg\/amd)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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