Nation told to be ready for free trade
Nation told to be ready for free trade
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto reminded Indonesians
yesterday that they must be ideologically prepared to face the
trade liberalization set by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
forum for 2020, because the trend is inexorable.
"We must be prepared technologically, ideologically,
politically, economically, socially and culturally", he said.
Leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum agreed
in Bogor in November to comprehensive trade liberalization in the
region by the year 2020.
Soeharto was speaking at the opening of a training course on
Pancasila ideology for senior officials. He reminded the
officials that, apart from the reforms under the Bogor
declaration, Indonesia must also prepare itself for the advent of
the ASEAN Free Trade Area, between now and 2003.
The Pancasila course, which will last until April, will
discuss the latest developments in the fields of science,
politics, economics, sociology, culture, defense and security.
Soeharto confirmed that under the Bogor declaration this
country will have to enter the markets of advanced countries no
later than 2010.
"We will also have to be ready to open our door to the
products and services of industrialized countries no later than
2020", Soeharto said.
He added that "It doesn't matter whether you want it or not,
whether you like it or not, or whether you are prepared for it or
not: we have to enter the international free trade system."
Soeharto said that all new Indonesian policies, strategies and
laws should be consistent with free trade.
According to the President, many sections of society had begun
to doubt the reality and legality of Indonesia's commitment under
the Bogor declaration.
He said some of the doubts were based on technical grounds,
while others flowed from ideological positions.
According to the head of state some people have also raised
questions about Indonesia's technical and professional ability to
meet the new challenge.
They apparently have little faith in the ability of
Indonesians, with their limited education and lack of experience
in facing tight competition, to cope with the era of
globalization and openness, the President said.
Others had asked whether Indonesian participation in
liberalized trade and free investment would lead this nation to
accept liberalism, he continued.
He said all these questions should be answered by "handling
the problems in a very essential way".
"We will accept this challenge without a grain of doubt while
we still have time to make the necessary preparation for the
program", he added.
Touching on the Pancasila course, Soeharto said that it
involved open exchanges of ideas, to enable the participants to
implement the state ideology in a dynamic manner.
"Pancasila is an open ideology. It is not made of frozen
ideals", he said.
Also in attendance at the opening ceremony, Minister/State
Secretary Moerdiono said that many people are confused about the
difference between liberal, liberalization and liberalism.
The confusion is serious because the trade liberalization
system is almost totally based on western laws.
"There are now strong indications of ideological confusion
among us", he said.
He said that Indonesia still holds fast to Pancasila state
ideology but, at the same time, wants to show the world that it
is able to compete with other systems.
"We accept trade liberalization, not liberalism", he said.
Moerdiono said that this nation will never compromise its
basic principles, such as unity and togetherness. (tis)