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)