Depok, West Java (ANTARA News) - Indonesian economic fundamentals need "extra energy" to be able to go through the global economic volatility in 2014, when the country is going to the polls, an economist said.

"Stability and success in the elections would serve as basic indicators to facilitate implementation of working programs in 2014," Rizal E. Halim, an economic researcher from the University of Indonesia, said here on Tuesday.

Rizal said a policy mix is needed to sustain stability and to ensure that economic development continues in the political year of 2014.

The worlds fourth most populous country will hold legislative election in April next year to be followed with presidential election.

Rizal said the government should cut subsidy on oil fuels, restrict imports of goods already produced domestically, encourage industrialization , impose control of energy and food supplies and accelerate development of infrastructure especially outside Java.

In addition, the quality of the countrys human resources needs to be improved, he said.

He especially wanted to draw attention to the risk of allowing the countrys current account and trade deficits to continue undermining efforts to implement other economic programs.

"Performance in the exports of commodities other than oil and gas need to be improved , and efforts are need to cut imports of oil and gas ," he added.

He said large imports of oil and gas have caused trade deficit over the past year.
(H-ASG/F001)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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