Soeharto denounces critics on economy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto denounced yesterday
\ncampaigners who criticized the government development policies
\nwithout having adequate knowledge of the economy.<\/p>\n
As the mandatory of the People's Consultative Assembly,
\nSoeharto said he was assigned to carry out development programs
\nbased on the trilogy of development: national stability, growth
\nand equality.<\/p>\n
\"It is not true at all that the current development policies
\nare solely engineered by a man named Soeharto,\" the President
\nsaid in a dialog with 1,000 small and big entrepreneurs who
\nattended a national convention on business partnership at the
\nBogor Presidential Palace yesterday.<\/p>\n
During the election campaign, some campaigners have criticized
\neconomic development policies which give more opportunities to
\nbig enterprises.<\/p>\n
Soeharto launched a national business partnership forum in May
\nlast year to boost cooperation between large and small
\nenterprises.<\/p>\n
The forum groups 41 large business leaders who signed a deal
\nin Jimbaran, Bali, to help the government eradicate poverty by
\nforging a partnership with small enterprises and cooperatives.<\/p>\n
The group has set up PT Mitra Dana Jimbaran with paid-up
\ncapital of Rp 50 billion (US$22.2 million) to provide cheap
\nfinancing to targeted enterprises and cooperatives.<\/p>\n
\"Partnership between large and small enterprises will help
\nIndonesian business face economic globalization and will also
\nmodernize Indonesia's economy,\" Soeharto said.<\/p>\n
\"The purpose of this partnership is equality,\" he added.<\/p>\n
President of the country's largest cement producer PT
\nIndocement Tunggal Prakasa Sudwikatmono, in his report to
\nSoeharto, said that until its first anniversary yesterday, the
\nforum had increased its membership from 41 to 633 big
\nenterprises, including state-owned companies.<\/p>\n
\"The 633 big enterprises have committed to form partnerships
\nwith 264,850 cooperatives and small enterprises across the
\ncountry, with a combined partnership value of more than Rp 6
\ntrillion,\" said Sudwikatmono.<\/p>\n
Jimbaran Group realized its partnership commitment in
\n1996\/1997 with 132,765 small enterprises and 1,588 cooperatives
\ninvolving Rp 3.59 trillion, said Sudwikatmono.<\/p>\n
Next year the group will target 114,068 small enterprises and
\n3,649 cooperatives worth more than Rp 3.85 trillion.<\/p>\n
In yesterday's meeting, Soeharto also revealed the progress of
\nthe drive of presidential instruction funds for the least
\ndeveloped villages (IDT) from 1995 to collect funds from the
\ncountry's wealthiest individuals.<\/p>\n
\"In the last two years, Rp 743.580 billion has been collected.
\nWe have lent Rp 118.246 billion to almost six million poor
\npeople,\" said Soeharto.<\/p>\n
The money was from conglomerates who were asked to contribute
\n2 percent of their after-income tax revenues for poverty
\neradication programs.<\/p>\n
Soeharto looked delighted and enjoyed his dialog with 1,000
\nparticipants of the convention, joking with the audience.<\/p>\n
\"Conglomerates must think not only about investment in this
\nworld but also investment for the hereafter life,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A member of a dairy farm cooperative from Pasuruan, East Java,
\nSulastri Hussein thanked the president because the partnership
\nprogram had boosted production.<\/p>\n
\"Mr. President, now we have increased our milk production,\"
\nsaid Sulastri.<\/p>\n
Sulastri said she was optimistic her cooperative would grow
\nfast under Soeharto's guidance who she described as \"a cow lover
\nand an excellent milker\".<\/p>\n
Soeharto replied: \"Frankly speaking I am not a good milker.\"
\nThe audience burst into laughter. (06)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-denounces-critics-on-economy-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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