"Indonesia, with its average economic growth of six percent, is relatively strong against economic crisis. It serves as one of the economic growth centers in Asia," Mari said in the Boao Forum for Asia in Boao, Hainan, China.
Beijing (ANTARA News) - Indonesia could serve as a main source of positive economic growth in Asia during the crisis or during the global economic slow-down, Tourism and Creative Economy Mari Elka Pangestu said.

"Indonesia, with its average economic growth of six percent, is relatively strong against economic crisis. It serves as one of the economic growth centers in Asia," Mari said in the Boao Forum for Asia in Boao, Hainan, China.

She told ANTARA on Sunday night that Asia now contributed 50 percent to the world economic growth. "And as a country which is relatively strong against crisis, Indonesia is one of the important economic growth sources in Asia."

"The problem is how Indonesia can maintain its positive economic growth amid world economic weakening and uncertain conditions," the Indonesian minister said.

She said that Indonesia should focus its investment on the education and health sectors.

"This is important for improving Indonesia`s human resources quality. Indonesia should have creative and innovative human resources to maintain its positive economic growth and to serve as a main source of regional economic strength," she said.

Besides, Indonesia should also be able to master technology and develop its adequate infrastructure to maintain the positive growth of its economy and its position as a source of regional economic growth.

Asia recorded an average economic growth at 5.8 percent in 2012, slightly declining from its economic growth in 2011 which stood at 5.9 percent.

The Asian economic growth now is supported by the economic growth in East Asian and the Pacific countries, as well as in ASEAN region like Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

During the Boao Forum, Mari also met with International Monetary Fund Chairperson Christine Lagarde to discuss world economic development and her nomination as director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"We talked about the world economic development and I also introduced myself as a candidate for the WTO chairmanship," Mari said.

Mari is one of the women`s candidate for the WTO leadership.

"Besides paying a courtesy call, I also asked for suggestions and learned from Christine, a woman who is leading the global financial organization," she said.

In the Boao Forum for Asia 2013, Mari also promoted her nomination for the WTO director general post. Besides meeting with the IMF leader, Mari also held a meeting with G20 representative for Russia Sherpa, US Under Secretary Robert Hormats and the foreign ministers of Australia and Zambia.

"They appreciated my nomination as the WTO director general. Most of them already knew my track records," Mari said.

Nine candidates are bidding to replace Pascal Lamy, the current director general, whose term expires on August 31. The new WTO leader is due to be chosen by the end of May.

A decision on the next director general is due by May 31, 2013 and the new director general will take office on September 1, 2013.

Apart from Mari Elka Pangestu, there are eight other candidates for the WTO director general post. They are Tim Groser, New Zealand`s Minister of Trade; Anabel Gonzalez, the Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica; Amina Mohamed, Kenya`s former WTO Ambassador; Alan Kyerematen, a former Minister of Trade and Industry from Ghana; Roberto Carvalho de Azevedo, Brazil`s current ambassador to the WTO; Herminio Blanco, Mexico`s former Minister of Trade and Industry who was his country`s chief negotiator for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); South Korea`s Trade Minister, Taeho Bark; and Ahmad Thougan Hindawi, a former Industry and Trade Minister of Jordan.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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