RI committed 'to removing trade barriers'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is fully committed to removing tariff
\nand non-tariff barriers, and implementing agreements to further
\nthe country's integration into the global trading network,
\nMinister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad said yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"We are because we realize that when we open ourselves up to
\nthe global economy, the long term benefits from increased
\nparticipation in the world economy will be immense,\" Mar'ie told
\na Pacific Rim Forum in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
A copy of Mar'ie's speech was released here yesterday by the
\nfinance ministry's public relations section.<\/p>\n
Mar'ie said Indonesia regretted that some countries had
\nintroduced barriers that could impede the success already
\nachieved so far.<\/p>\n
He also regretted that little progress had been made to
\nestablish a similar constructive framework in the trade of
\nservices.<\/p>\n
\"We all know that as the pace of economic globalization
\naccelerates, trade in services, including financial services, is
\nbecoming increasingly important,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Mar'ie said Indonesia had gained from reducing restrictions on
\ngoods trading and could gain more by reducing barriers to the
\ntrade of services.<\/p>\n
He said that Indonesia had a very open financial sector and
\nwas ready to participate in negotiations on the liberalization of
\ntrade in services and would fairly and objectively evaluate
\nproposals for removing trade barriers.<\/p>\n
On the Asian economy, Mar'ie said that as global competition
\nwas more intense, the continued success of Asian economies would
\ndepend largely on how quickly and well they met several
\nchallenges, he said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian finance minister said the challenges to the
\nAsian economy were as follows:<\/p>\n
The first challenge is for East Asian economies to quickly
\nconvert their manufacturing and services sectors into knowledge-
\nintensive industries and to generate higher incomes for their
\ncitizens.<\/p>\n
The second is to develop a framework that will allow them to
\nmove from export-led growth based on labor and raw material
\nintensive exports to exports that will increasingly consist of
\nhigher value-added products.<\/p>\n
The third is to maintain their record of macroeconomic policy,
\nwhile creating a more just society.<\/p>\n
The fourth is to quickly and thoroughly develop and adapt
\ntheir education systems to meet the coming global challenges.<\/p>\n
The fifth is to encourage the development of a democratic
\nculture; create a policy framework that allows growth while
\nprotecting the environment; establishing a code of good
\ngovernance; and promoting the active participation of all
\ncitizens in the development process.<\/p>\n
The sixth challenge is to alleviate poverty.<\/p>\n
The seventh challenge is to create a forum to help resolve
\npotential conflict in the region while continuing to recognize
\nthe diversity that is the region's strength. (bnt)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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