RI on track to achieve development goals<\/p>\n
Dadan Wijaksana, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia has made significant progress toward achieving a set of
\nglobal development targets set out by the United Nations under
\nthe Millennium Declaration, although extra efforts are still
\nneeded to accelerate the pace, says a minister.<\/p>\n
During the launch of Indonesia's First Millennium Development
\nGoals Report on Monday, State Minister for National Development
\nPlanning Kwik Kian Gie said a stronger and more equal global
\npartnership would be crucial in the country's efforts to pick up
\nthe pace in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).<\/p>\n
The MDGs set out eight targets but mainly focus on eradicating
\npoverty.<\/p>\n
\"Developed countries should consistently provide increased
\ndevelopment assistance, reduce debts (of developing nations),
\nprovide access to their markets and transfer of technology -- all
\nof which have not been optimally realized to date,\" Kwik said.<\/p>\n
Kwik explained that since 1970, the developed countries have
\ncommitted to allocate some 0.7 percent of their GDP as part of
\ntheir international development strategy through the Official
\nDevelopment Assistance (ODA), but only a few of them have
\nfulfilled the pledge.<\/p>\n
\"On the other hand, those countries have allocated more than
\nUS$300 billion per year -- almost six times their ODA pledges --
\nto subsidize their own agricultural products and exports,\" he
\nsaid, adding that such a measure was detrimental to developing
\nnations' economic productivity.<\/p>\n
He also lamented the fact that many of the poverty eradication
\nprograms here are financed by foreign loans, which he said only
\npassed the burden on to the next generation.<\/p>\n
\"Poverty eradication should be carried out based on productive
\nmeans so that it raises productivity, the purchasing power, and
\ncompetition among poor people, without creating a burden for the
\nnext generation.\"<\/p>\n
According to the report, the proportion of the general
\npopulation living below the poverty line had declined to 11.3
\npercent in 1996 from 15.1 percent in 1990. After the 1998
\neconomic crisis, the rate increased to 23.4 percent in the
\nfollowing year but managed to decline to 18.2 percent and 17.4
\npercent in 2002 and 2003, respectively.<\/p>\n
The report projected that the proportion of people living
\nbelow the poverty line could decline to 7.5 percent in 2015, in
\nline with the Millennium's target.<\/p>\n
The population growth rate has also decreased from 2.32
\npercent in the 1971-1990 period to 1.49 in 1990-2000 period.
\nAdult literacy has increased to 89.9 percent in 2003 with life
\nexpectancy now at 66.2 years compared to 45 years in 1967.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-on-track-to-achieve-development-goals-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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