PRESS RELEASE: The Government Completed 122 Action Plans of the White Paper Program

Jakarta, 10 August 2004 – The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti reported yesterday to President Megawati the progress of the implementation of the Government’s Economic Plan for the period between September 2003 and July 2004. The Plan is part of the Presidential Instruction 5/2003 issued on 5 September 2003 that committed the government to implement in a timely manner a series of measures under the post –IMF Economic Plan, or better known as the “White Paper”.

In the report, Minister Dorodjatun informed the President that out of 161 action plans detailed in the White Paper that have time frame until July 2004, 122 or 76 per cent have been completed. The other 39 action plans have achieved significant progress but yet to be completed. Despite the number of completed action plans has increased from only 119 plans in June 2004, but in terms of percentage it has decreased from 80 per cent in the previous month.

The Coordinating Minister then informed the importance of timely implementation of the “White Paper” programs that up to now has allowed a smooth transition from the IMF program and ensures continued macroeconomic stability. It is therefore, the Government has to do its utmost to complete the unfinished plans in the program's final stage. The program will end at the same time with the end of the government’s tour of duty in October 2004.

In particular, the Minister draws the attention of the President to several drafts of bills and Government’s decrees that have already been approved by the cabinet but yet to be issued by State Secretariat. These are:

Presidential decree on remuneration system for the Financial Intelligence Unit for Anti-Money Laundering/PPATK (targeted for October 2003);
Presidential decree on the formation of a wage board as an implementation of a new labor law (targeted for December 2003);
Government regulation on upstream and downstream oil and gas business (targeted for December 2003);
The submission of trade bill to the Parliament (targeted for November 2003);
The submission of information and electronic transaction bill to the Parliament (targeted for December 2003);
The submission of taxation bill to the Parliament (targeted for January 2004).