IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde (R) meets with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on February 26 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – International Monetary Fund (IMF) ManagingDirector Christine Lagarde has called on Indonesia to boost growth to createmore jobs for its growing labour force.
She made the suggestion when meeting with Indonesian President JokoWidodo on February 26 at the start of her week-long visit to Indonesia.
Ina statement released following the meeting, Lagarde said Indonesia’s economycontinues to prove resilient with a sound economic performance and favourableoutlook. She hailed the Indonesian President and his team on their successfuleconomic management and strengthened policy frameworks.
In recent years, Indonesia has struggledto bring its economic growth above 5 percent, well below China and India,amidst weakening consumer demand and limited foreign investment.
Last year, the second largest economy in Southeast Asia failed to meetthe government’s GDP growth target of 5.2 percent. Indonesia is expected toexpand its economy by 5.3 percent in 2018
The IMF chief said the two sides talked about the importance of achievinghigher growth to increase employment for Indonesia’s growing workforce.
During the visit, Lagard will attend aneconomic conference alongside banking executives and officials from ASEANcountries, which will focus on new growth models and adaptation to rapidlychanging technologies.
She also plans to visit Yogyakarta City in Javaand Bali Island, where the IMF will hold its annual meetings in October.-VNA
VNA
