Govt, business need mutual trust

Govt, business need mutual trust

Two dinners that took place here recently are worthy of
comment. The first was held by the visiting premier of China, Zhu
Rongji, and was attended by Indonesian businessmen from Jakarta
and the regions. The room was so crowded that hundreds of
businessmen had to be turned away. Guests attending the dinner
each had to pay Rp 1 million.

Another dinner was hosted by Muhammad Lutfi, general chairman
of the Indonesian Association of Young Entrepreneurs, as a joint
breaking of the fast event. It was attended mostly by the new
breed of Indonesian businessmen -- enthusiastic and representing
various business fields.

These events demonstrate that Indonesia's economic future is
not entirely bleak. Businessmen, as the prime movers of our
economic recovery, are still keen to develop their companies.

Business may complain about the government's lack of attention
but this should be taken as a warning that economic recovery
requires the government, the private sector and the people at
large to team up and trust one another. The government, on the
other hand, tends to associate the corporate world with unseemly
practices and self-centeredness.

When effective communication between the government and the
business sector fails, misunderstanding and prejudice prevail. In
fact, to get out of the crisis, both must work together.

Government and business team up in all market economy
countries. In the U.S., President Bush has used the momentum
following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to intensify cooperation
with American businesspeople to spur the country's economic
growth.

In Indonesia, the government must actively cooperate with
strategic elements of society, including the business sector. Can
we rebuild our economy? Maybe yes, maybe no, but we must try.

It is true that, in the past, we had unscrupulous businessmen
who used illegitimate practices. They are responsible for our
sinking economy. We must use these bad experiences as a lesson to
avoid a recurrence in the future.

-- Kompas, Jakarta