MINISTER: INDONESIA TO BECOME INDUSTRIALIZED IN 2010

Jakarta, sEPT 24 (ANTARA) - Minister of industry Fahmi Idris said Indonesia expects to be able to become an industrialized nation in 2010 to enable it to compete at an international level.

"It is hoped in 2010 Indonesia as a new industrialized country will be able to safeguard its national potentials well such as its natural and human resources," he said when receiving 49 Japanese businessmen who came to expand their business and business opportunities in Indonesia.

He said Indonesia had already had a policy for long-term industrial development program until 2025, which was focused on five sectors namely the transportation equipment industry, agricultural-industry, information technology industry and small and medium industry supported by strong manufacturing industry.

In all the industries would be able to produce 78 percent of the total national industrial production and 83 percent of the total non-oil and gas exports, he said.

"Strategies for the development of each sector has already been prepared," he said.

On the occasion the minister also said that in order to speed up economic growth and overcome unemployment and poverty the Indonesian government had also produced a policy to speed up development of the real sector and empowerment of micro-, small- and medium-businesses.

The policy contained in Presidential Instruction No 5 of 2008 as continuation of Presidential Instruction No 6 of 2007 on the Acceleration of Development of the Real Sector and Empowerment of Micro-,Small- and Medium-Businesses.

The move was taken to improve the investment climate, financial sector and speed up infrastructure and small and medium businesses development, he said.