"Based on reports from the chief of BKPM (Investment Coordinating Board) and the BPS (Central Statistics Agency) we come to the conclusion that the Indonesian economy is moving on a good track with strong growth," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said at the Presidential Office here on Friday.
He made the remarks following an impromptu meeting between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and a number of economic ministers including himself, Trade Minister Marie Elka Pangestu and National Development Planning Minister/Head of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) Armida Alisjahbana.
Quoting a BPS report, Hatta said the economy grew slightly higher in the second quarter compared with the previous quarter. "God willing, we can achieve the economic growth target of 6.4 percent as set under the 2011 state budget," he said.
The good economic condition was reflected by economic indicators in the macro, real, export, import, investment and manufacturing sectors, he said.
Yet the government would always keep a watchful eye on the global economic situation, he said.
"The government is always coordinating with BI (the central bank). We have a number of response policies to address something abnormal. The polices are supported by adequate funds in the state budget as well as by other funding sources. The government and BI have a crisis management protocol. We are optimistic that our economy will continue to pick up," he said.
Earlier, President Yudhoyono asked the public not to panic in the face of the current global economic upheavals saying the government had a lot of experience and would take prompt and accurate steps as it did when the global economic crisis reached the country in 2008.
"We can prove that the economic crisis engulfing the country 13 years ago will not recur. By adopting proper policies and maintaining close coordination and synchronization, there is no reason to panic because our economic conditions now are far better than in 1998/1999," he said. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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