RI needs time to show strong

RI needs time to show strong

COLOMBO (AP): Indonesia's economy is likely to take two to three years before returning to strong growth following the Asian financial crisis, the regional head of the International Finance Corporation said Friday.

"I think we've seen the bottom of the turmoil, as long as there is no more political instability," Rashad Kaldany, director of the South and Southeast Asia Department of the IFC, told reporters in Sri Lanka to open an office.

"I noticed on a recent visit to Indonesia that the general mood is better than a few months ago. People are more optimistic," Kaldany said.

The IFC, the World Bank's private sector development arm, has about US$1 billion invested in Indonesia's private sector.