President to Announce Economic Policy Package

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is set to announce the first phase of economic policy package on Wednesday.

"Tomorrow the economic policy package will be announced. The package comprises many policies. So we will announce it in stages," the President said after handing over packages of rice and cooking oil at Kampung Pertanian Utara in Duren Sawit Sub-district, East Jakarta, on Tuesday.

The economic policy package involves the deregulation of policies which have so far hampered investment, he said.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution said he had reported the economic policy package to the President following a meeting at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.

"We have reported it to Mr.President. He also has looked at it. He gave much comment on it. He wants to not announce it all at once," he said.

Darmin said the economic policy package contains short-term policies which can improve the countrys economic condition.

The government is expected to announce the second phase of the economic policy package next week.

"So we have been instructed to choose which will be announced this week, which will be announced next week and which will be announced later on. In essence, the package will not be announced all at once," he said.

But he declined to divulge into the content of the economic policy package saying the large-scale deregulation of policies tops the list of President Jokowis priorities.

"Unfortunately, we cannot explain the substance now because we have to decide which will be announced this week. Hopefully, we can do so tomorrow," he said.

ANTARA