Indonesia Optimistic Of Reducing Poverty to Eight Pct

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya JAKARTA, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- Indonesia is optimistic of lowering its rate of poverty to eight per cent in 2014 from 12.36 per cent now. The objective would be achieved through the implementation of various poverty eradication programmes aimed reducing the poverty rate by one per cent each year, said the Minister of Coordination for People's Welfare, Agung Laksono. The ministry was confident of meeting the target based on the strong national economic growth currently at 6.5 per cent annually, he said. He said the poor in Indonesia now totalled 29.5 million including the hardcore while another 30 million were bordeline poor. The population of Indonesia is 237 million, according to the 2010 census. -- BERNAMA