RI pushes for increased exports to boost economy<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (AP): Despite political turmoil, Indonesia's top
\neconomic minister Sunday predicted a bright future for his
\nnation's economy, insisted there was no friction with the
\nInternational Monetary Fund and said his people need more time to
\novercome their history of dictatorship.<\/p>\n
"This is not an easy job," Rizal Ramli told reporters on the
\nfinal day of a three-day visit to Singapore. "We are ... in the
\ntransition toward democracy. Of course there's some problem of
\nadjustment but I do believe that we are going to be able to
\nconsolidate this process."<\/p>\n
Rizal was in Singapore from Friday to Sunday for meetings with
\nPrime Minister Goh and other Cabinet ministers.<\/p>\n
Rizal pointed to economic growth of over 4 percent in this
\nyear's second quarter - and a 27 percent surge in non-oil exports
\nduring the first seven months of 2000 - as proof that the economy
\ncan thrive despite civil strife.<\/p>\n
Rizal's optimism comes despite grave investor fears about
\nmassive state and corporate debt in Indonesia - the world's
\nfourth most populous country. And the country is still struggling
\nto emerge from its worst economic crisis in 30 years.<\/p>\n
Rizal said the government has placed Indonesia on the right
\neconomic track by shifting more resources to the provinces,
\nproviding fiscal incentives for offshore debt restructuring,
\npromoting small and medium sized businesses, selling off state
\nassets and securing new IMF funding.<\/p>\n
He said earlier on Saturday that the government would boost
\nexports a bid to speed up recovery.<\/p>\n
Rizal told Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong that
\nIndonesia's current economic recovery "was largely based on
\ndomestic consumption," Goh's office said in a statement<\/p>\n
Rizal pledged that Indonesia's new Cabinet will "push for
\nincreased exports to boost the recovery," the statement said.<\/p>\n
Economic performance in the vast archipelago of Indonesia -
\nthe world's fourth most populous country - is of vital concern to
\nneighboring Southeast Asian countries.<\/p>\n
In a meeting in Singapore Saturday, Rizal assured Goh that
\nIndonesia's new economic team is "cohesive and disciplined," the
\nstatement said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia swore in a new, streamlined 26-member cabinet in
\nAugust. President Abdurrahman Wahid has promised that the new
\nlineup will be more efficient than the unwieldy 35-member team he
\nappointed last October, when he became Indonesia's first
\ndemocratically chosen leader in four decades.<\/p>\n
Rizal also told a media briefing at the end of his visit to
\nSingapore that Indonesia wants to accelerate the use of a multi-
\nmillion dollar trade assistance package offered by Singapore, its
\ntop economic chief said Sunday.<\/p>\n
"We (want to) accelerate the process to show both sides are
\nwilling to support each other in times of crisis," he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Only $60 million of the 400-million-dollar trade package had
\nbeen used, Rizal said.<\/p>\n
The Singaporean government had only invested $76 million in an
\nequity stake in car maker PT Astra out of its $500 million dollar
\nIndonesian investment program, he said.<\/p>\n
Anxious to help Indonesia recover, Singapore's government
\nearlier this year announced a multimillion-dollar investment and
\nloan plan to get Singapore countries involved in Indonesia and
\nrestore confidence in Indonesia among investors from other
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Rizal said that Singapore is in an influential position to
\nhelp Indonesia counter international criticism over its handling
\nof militias in East Timor.<\/p>\n
"We could do with Singapore's support in the international
\narena," he told the Straits Times newspaper in an interview.
\n"Singapore is well respected for its international assessments.
\nMajor countries listen to your views," he said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta is under intense pressure from the United Nations (UN)
\nto bring to justice the killers of three UN humanitarian workers
\nmurdered in a militia attack in West Timor on September 6, and to
\ndisarm the militias.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-pushes-for-increased-exports-to-boost-economy-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}