Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said consistency in economic policy implementation was one factor sustaining the countrys economic growth amid the global economic slowdown.
Consistent policy to keep the momentum of economic growth is strong enough to save the country from the impact of external negative sentiment, the minister said.
Sri Mulyani appreciated the economic performance in the first nine months of the year when the country chalked up a growth of 5.04 percent year-on-year.
"The figure was relatively good compared with other developing economies," she said here on Tuesday.
Consistency in fiscal management and structural reform policy gave confidence for the business players in facing the global challenges, she said.
"The countrys state budget deficit is relative small in comparison with those of other emerging economies. Our macro economic performance, therefore, gives confidence that would reduce speculation and external negative sentiment," she said.
There are, however, a host of challenges to be met including the need to increase government consumption, which decreased in the third quarter of this year and gave less contribution to the economic growth , she said.
"The countrys economic growth was relatively quite good," she said although there were sectors that need serious addressing such as contraction in the government spending in the third quarter as a result of the revision of state budget.
"But it is seasonal that in the fourth quarter would be neutralized," she said.
Anther sector that needs attention is export performance which remains in the doldrums on weak demand amid the global slowdown, although the commodity prices began to pick up, she said. (WDY)
