TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said that one aspect to be emphasized in achieving the economic growth target in 2018 is the export growth.
“Amidst the global economic condition, our export value is increasing year-on-year,” Enggartiasto said at the Tax Directorate General in Jakarta, yesterday, August 16.
Enggartiasto revealed that the trade balance surplus averagely increases by 17 percent.
“Even if the oil and gas sector is taken into account, we’ll still have a surplus. We will maintain this,” he added.
Enggartiasto said that the government has set a target to achieve an export growth somewhere between 5 and 7.5 percent. He believes that the target can be achieved given the favorable performance shown in the first semester of this year.
The minister added that his ministry also needs to maintain the inflation rate. He promised the government would continue to roll out programs to control prices without hampering the business sector.
The government, Enggartiasto said, is also planning to develop traditional markets by providing access to supplies with prices equal to those offered by modern retailers.
“The Coordinating Economic Minister is also designing micro-loans for vendors,” he said.
DIKO OKTARA
