PRESIDENT: POLITICAL STABILITY ESSENTIAL TO CARRY OUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Tampak Siring, Bali, April 19 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said political stability and domestic order were important preconditions for economic development over the next five years.

The president made the statement when opening a national working meeting of key central and provincial government officials namely all cabinet ministers, provincial governors, regional legislative council (DPRD) chairmen, state enterprise (BUMN) chiefs, and state institution leaders, at Tampak Siring Palace here on Monday morning.

"No country can make real developmental progress without political stability," the head of state said.

The President said that besides political stability, security and order were also important requirements for the process of economic development.

"With political stability, security, and order, I am sure Indonesia will have a great chance to make economic progress in the next five years," the president said.

He added that other factors such as legal certainty, economic efficiency and a favorable business climate, the right policies and regulation,s would ensure the success in infrastructure and economic development in the country.

"If incidents like the recent Tanjung Priok riot happen in a number of places, it will disturb the investment climate in the country," the president said.

In response to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa's presentation about the progress of national economic development since 1999-2009, the President said there was significant improvement but he called on all parties not to be satisfied about what had been achieved so far.

In his presentation at the meeting, y Hatta Rajasa explained that up to 2014 economic growth would reach 7 percent, and the unemployment rate would be 5-6 percent with an income per capita of US$4,500.

The meeting would focus on four things, namely Indonesia's economic development over the next five years, an evaluation of pro-people programs, law enforcement and justice for the people, and efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.