RI`S FOREX RESERVES REACH US$66.1 BILLION

Jakarta, Jan 6 (ANTARA) - Indonesia's foreign exchange reserves reached the record figure of US$66.1 billion at the end of 2009, a Bank Indonesia or central bank official said.

Bank Indonesia Acting Governor Darmin Nasution said at a press conference here Wednesday the foreign exchange reserves were equal to 6.6 months of imports and foreign debt payments.

Darmin said the hike in foreign exchange reserves followed improving export performance driven by commodity price hikes and global economic recovery while imports dropped more sharply than expected.

The central bank predicted the foreign exchange reserves would reach US$78 billion by the end of 2010 which would be equal to 6.4 months of imports and foreign debt payments.

The bank recorded a rising trend in foreign exchange reserves during 2009, starting from US$50.869 billion in January to US$66.1 billion by the end of the closing month.

The reserves were recorded at US$50.869 billion on January 30 and rose to US$50.564 billion in February, US$50.840 billion in March, US$55.565 billion in April, US$57.934 billion in May, US$57.6 billion in June, US$57.418 billion in July, US$57.943 billion in August, US$62.287 billion in September, US$64.52 billion in October, US$65.844.16 billion in November and US$66.1 billion in December.***