Soeharto calls for new family policy

JAKARTA (JP): The country needs to launch three simultaneous campaigns to develop the human resources required to survive global competition, President Soeharto said yesterday.

Addressing a meeting of demographers, Soeharto said Indonesia needed campaigns to educate the public of the importance of small families that generate larger incomes more efficiently than is currently the case.

"The three drives must be coordinated (if Indonesia wishes to) create job opportunities and produce superior commodities in the increasingly stiff global competition," he said.

The President, accompanied by State Minister of Population Haryono Suyono at the opening of the three-day meeting, stressed how fortunate Indonesia was because it had begun its family planning program more than 20 years ago.

"Last month we welcomed the birth of Indonesia's 200th million citizen. This birth was a sign of how successful our national population program has been.

"If our family planning movement hadn't been successful, then our population would have exceeded 220 million by now. This means that we have prevented 20 million births.

Experts have said that thanks to Indonesia's successful family planning program the government has saved up to US$20 billion in foreign exchange per year, allowing for an annual per capita income of US$1,000.

Soeharto also said increased mobility should lead to greater regional development. Urbanization should not mean only the movement of people from rural areas to cities but also the stimulation of urban development.

"This growth should be coupled with the development of infrastructure in rural areas to meet people's needs.

"People, particularly university graduates and skilled laborers should be encouraged to move to rural areas so that more capital and technology can reach outlying regions. This movement should see the growth of new urban centers across the country," he said.

The President also launched a series of stamps yesterday to commemorate the 200 millionth Indonesian child.

Prior to Soeharto's speech, Haryono Suyono reported that the country's population growth was approaching 1.5 percent per annum. (swe)