GOVT PROJECTS 2009 MACRO-ECONOMIC GROWTH AT 6.2 PCT

Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara, Sept 10 (ANTARA) - The government has projected the country's macro-economic growth in 2009 at 6.2 percent, a national development planning official said.
To achieve the projected figure, various efforts would be made such as curbing inflation, controlling the rupiah's exchange rate against the US dollar, the interest rate, the oil price and also reducing the poverty and unemployment rates, Dr Bambang Widiono, deputy for evaluation of developmental achievements to the national planning minister, said here Wednesday.
Speaking at a forum of Regional Development Planning Board (Bappeda) heads from across East Indonesia, he said the government wished to attain the following targets : an inflation rate of 6.5 percent, a rupiah exchange rate of Rp9,100 per US dollar, an interest rate of 8.5 percent, an oil price of US$100 per barrel and an unemployment rate of seven to eight percent.
The targets would be met if national policies were implemented through creating a conducive situation to support efficient economic activities and provision of software infrastructures such as laws relating to property rights, security guarantees and regulations, he said.
He said hardware infrastructures such as roads, ports and telecommunication facilities to support long-term investment and others were also important in addition to education and health promotion needs.
Participants in the meeting discussed the development information system and inter-regional interactions for synergizing various regional development policies for expediting regional growth.
On the occasion, Bambang called on all Bappeda heads to pay attention to the allocation of resources and welfare improvment in formulating regional policies.