WB vows to continue assisting RI

WB vows to continue assisting RI

JAKARTA (JP): The World Bank will continue to assist
Indonesia, which has put loans from the bank to good use, the
bank's president, James D. Wolfensohn, said.

The World Bank is the real partner of Indonesia in its
development program, he told the press after meeting with
President Soeharto at Merdeka Palace on Wednesday.

Wolfensohn said he underlined the importance of developing
small and medium-scale industries during the meeting. He also
stressed expanding the private sector's role in development in
Indonesia.

He said the World Bank hopes Indonesia will continue its
program of poverty alleviation.

"We'll support all the initiatives taken by the Indonesian
government in alleviating the poverty," he said.

He said that efforts should be intensified to create openness,
to sharpen the competitive edge and to address environmental
issues.

He also discussed the South-South cooperation program
President Soeharto established while chairman of the Non-Aligned
Movement. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund
support these initiatives, Wolfensohn said.

He said he discussed the economic overheating still troubling
Indonesia with the President.

"I stressed that Indonesia is not the only country facing the
issue. Almost all countries with high economic growth are facing
it," he said.

Asked about Indonesia's request for US$5.2 billion in loans
from the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI) this year, the
World Bank president said he expected the group to reach a
positive agreement like the one made last year.

"I cannot comment further on this before we hold the CGI
meeting," he said. (13)