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.