Economists meet to discuss economic reconstruction

Economists meet to discuss economic reconstruction

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Economists Association (ISEI)
will discuss the country's economic reconstruction in its ninth
plenary session opening at the NAM Center in the Kemayoran area
here today.

The two-day session will bring together ISEI executives from
its 41 branch offices nationwide, as well as academicians, those
interested in economic issues and practitioners from the
government and private sector, the group announced yesterday.

ISEI vice chairman Anwar Nasution said the topic was chosen
because of the country's economic meltdown and the social ills
accompanying the crisis.

"In the current situation, the government's revenue has
dropped sharply while its expenditure is jumping. It is important
to examine the provinces' response on the ailing economy," said
Anwar, who is the dean of the University of Indonesia's School of
Economics..

"It is also important to get an overview of the government's
policies to save the country, which we consider too little and
too late."

The session is expected to examine thoroughly the country's
ailing economy, both from macroeconomic and microeconomic
perspectives, and discuss the country's opportunities to lift
itself out of the crisis.

Items for discussion include the ailing banking sector,
monetary and fiscal policies, capital, small business, labor
markets, export, the recovery of the business environment and the
country's competitiveness.

Prominent speakers will include Anwar, Sri Mulyani Indrawati
of the University of Indonesia's School of Economics, Farid
Harianto from the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency, Mari Elka
Pangestu of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies,
Djisman Simanjuntak from Prasetya Mulya School of Business
Management, Rizal Ramli of the Econit think tank and Payaman
Simandjuntak of the Ministry of Manpower. (gis)