IMF Not Here to Talk Loans, BI Says

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bank Indonesia (BI) said that the arrival of International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde to Indonesia today is not about financial cooperation or loans. BI spokesman Tirta Segara asserted that Lagarde's visit is only to attend a seminar.

BI and the IMF will hold an international seminar dubbed "The Future of Asia's Finance" on September 1-2in Jakarta. The conference will discuss "Global Economic Challenges and Implications for Policymakers in Asia".

The event will be filled with discussions, and will be attended by Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro, OJK chief Muliaman Hadad, and representatives from the central banks of several countries including Japan, India, Cambodia, Laos, Australia, and Sri Lanka.

Additionally, Tirta said, it is normal for IMF officials to visit member countries. As Indonesia has been an IMF member since February 1967, Tirta said it is "normal for us to receive the visit of IMF's managing director. Other countries are also the same."

However, Lagarde's arrival is around the same time as Indonesia's economy and capital market downturn.  Thus, many people think that IMF's arrival to Jakarta will likely include a discussion for the lender to provide loans for Indonesia.

IMF's senior representative in Indonesia, Ben Bingham, asserted that Lagarde will not be discussing loans during her visit to Indonesia. Bingham made the statement to deny media reports that the IMF would provide financial assistance to Indonesia.

"Speculations over the planned arrival of our leader is very unreasonable," he said, as quoted by Antara.

Lagarde is scheduled to meet with President Joko Widodo, Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, as well as the Finance Minister and BI governor Agus Martowardojo. Lagarde will also meet with parliamentarians, female leaders, and academics to exchange ideas about the economic situation in Indonesia and the world.

SINGGIH SOARES | TRI ARTINING PUTRI