Activating our national potential

The government has said it would make sure the balance of trade would see a surplus of around US$5,411 million for the 1997/1998 fiscal year. This target is likely to be achieved because our exports are expected to reach a value of $56,153 million, with imports expected to total a mere $50,742 million. The rise in exports will be due to a projected 14 percent, or $47,296 million, increase in the non-oil sector.

We hope the increase in non-oil exports at the same time lifts all our national economy's potential by actuating a network of subcontracts and assignments. In the present situation, though exports are increasing, the local content of exported products remains limited, the result being that imports are also increasing.

It is imperative the nation realizes its full economic potential as existing realities demand. The return to the cities of all those people who visited their hometowns and villages during the past holiday, for example, demonstrates that our rural economic potential has not been adequately tapped. The overcrowding of our cities creates problems in the form of clean water shortages, environmental degradation and housing difficulties as well as a shortage of jobs.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta