"The organizing of the annual meeting is very complicated, but I am confident of the capacity and determination of the organizing committee under the leadership of Mr. Luhut. I am very optimistic that the event will run smoothly," he stated, while inspecting the construction of Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) statue at Jimbaran in Bali, on Thursday.
The WB president was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, Minister of Public Works and People`s Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, and Minister of Village, Disadvantaged Region, and Transmigration Eko Putro Sandjojo during his visit to Bali.
Kim also lauded the construction of the GWK statue, which he believed would serve as a special meeting of delegates.
"I know that the project has been built for quite a long time, and the government is determined to complete it. I see that the GWK statue is very great. I believe that inviting state leaders to have a dinner here will be special thing," he noted.
Luhut revealed that the government was serious about making preparations for the IMF-WB annual meeting.
Asked about the increased activity of Mount Agung in Bali, he explained that had met with volcanologists several times.
"I have met with the Chief of the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG), Kasbandi, and volcanologist, Soerono. They said that there is a small possibility that the volcano will erupt as it did in 1963. Hence, the eruption would be in the same scale as that of Mount Sinabung and Mount Anak Krakatau. Should it erupt, the eruption will only have an impact within 10-12 kilometer radius," he remarked.
In addition, the weather forecast has also shown that if the volcano erupts during the annual meeting, the wind will move in the easterly direction. "So, we are not worried about it too much, but we should continue to stay alert," he added.
The Boards of Governors of the IMF and the WB routinely organize an annual meeting every year to discuss the global economic and financial developments, as well as other global issues.
The Bali meeting is expected to bring together 15 thousand participants, including central bank governors and finance ministers from 189 countries.
(S012/INE)
Reported by Wira Suryantala and Naufal Fikri Yusuf
(T.S012/A/KR-BSR/S012)
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
