APINDO Comments on World Bank's EODB Scandal

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairperson of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) Hariyadi Sukamdani responded to the scandal surrounding the World Bank’s ease of doing business (EoDB) ranking that incriminated the International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director, which allegedly happened between 2018-2020.

“Indeed we do not have a standard because we must refer to an international agreement on how to define ease [of doing business],” said Hariyadi to Tempo on September 20. 

He said that the ease of doing business report had served a good purpose as it provided parameters that act as guidelines for global businesses and investors. Hariyadi hopes the World Bank will soon resolve the problem and establish again the benchmark of doing business. 

“This is a benchmark, regardless of a suspected perpetrator,” he said.

Hariyadi said businesses indeed do not use the EoDB report as a direct benchmark, but he believed it is needed by investors prior to investing in a certain country. 

“But this is an international guide and an appraisal for outsiders upon seeing us. Especially considering that we intend to increase investments and the government can continue to work on that,” he added. “We benefit from that.”

The World Bank announced that it has temporarily suspended its ease of doing business report due to a scandal incriminating the IMF managing director following an internal audit and investigation conducted by law firm Wilmer Hale. 

Read: Manufacturing PMI Growth Depends on Domestic Market: Apindo

CAESAR AKBAR | FRANCISCA CHRISTY