Luhut Pandjaitan, World Bank - IMF Discuss Coronavirus Crisis

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan attended a series of meetings with the managing director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva and the president of the World Bank David Malpass in the United States.

Accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Mahendra Siregar, Luhut said they talked about the global economic development in the wake of the massive spread of coronavirus during the meeting. 

“The outbreak occurring in China is among the factors that force the IMF to correct global economic growth. Georgieva also shared her views on the global situation possibly affecting the economy,” said Luhut during a press conference on Sunday, February 16.

The Coordinating Minister recalled that he also presented updates of Indonesia, such as the relocation plan of the capital city including the financing scheme and the design.

“I explained about [the government’s policies on] the downstream industry and the impacts that are expected to suppress the current account deficit since the export value cannot counterbalance the imports,” he said, adding that Indonesia was also determined to implement B30 biodiesel.

Luhut went on to say that the IMF shared positive responses that the Indonesian government would issue omnibus law as it was expected to improve the country’s economy.

Additionally, Luhut claimed he reported the impact taken by Indonesia following the coronavirus outbreak, especially in the tourism sector considering the number of Chinese tourist visits to the archipelago reached two million people per year.

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