Some economists say Indonesia is poised to become an emerging economic power similar to China and India. Economic growth slowed slightly during the worst of the global economic crisis, but now it is again expanding at a rate of over six percent a year, and Indonesia has the second-best performing stock market in Asia.
有经济学家认为，印尼即将成为一个类似于中国和印度那样的新兴经济强国。印尼经济增速在全球经济危机最严重的时期只略微减慢，现在又重新以每年超过6%的速度增长，而且印尼股市表现在亚洲排名第二。
An expanding manufacturing base, an abundance of natural resources, a growing domestic market, a sound financial sector and a stable political climate all contribute to make Indonesia's economy one of the strongest in the world.
印尼制造业不断扩张，自然资源丰富，国内市场欣欣向荣，金融产业健康，政治稳定，这一切使印尼跨入了世界经济强国之林。
Emerging economy
Milan Zavadjil the International Monetary Fund's representative in Indonesia, says it ranks just below China and India in attracting foreign investment.
国际货币基金组织驻印尼代表贾瓦蒂吉尔(Milan Zavadjil)说，印尼在吸引外资方面仅次于中国和印度。
"Various investor surveys have it jumping up the rankings," Zavadjil said. "And an interesting survey puts it as the fourth most likely place for investment over the next several years among emerging markets."
他说：“对投资人进行的不同调查显示，印尼对外来投资的吸引力不断上升。一项有趣的调查显示，未来几年中最具投资吸引力的新兴市场国家中，印尼排名第四。”
The Asian Development Bank recently forecast that Indonesia will see gross domestic product growth of 6.1 percent this year, and 6.3 percent in 2011.
亚洲开发银行最近预测，印尼国内生产总值今年将增长6.1%，明年增长6.3%。
Zavadjil says Indonesia's financial sector was not sophisticated enough to get involved in the complicated and ultimately disastrous investments that contributed to the global economic crisis in 2008. So while much of the world was thrown into recession, the fundamentals of Indonesia's economy remained strong.
贾瓦蒂吉尔说，印尼金融产业经营并不完全成熟，没有受到导致2008年全球经济危机那种复杂而又灾难性投资的牵连。所以，世界大多数国家陷入经济衰退时，印尼经济的基本面却依然健康。
"Indonesia had a very small fiscal deficit, very small borrowing requirements, a low external government and consumer debt, adequate foreign exchange reserves," he added. "The banks were well capitalized and liquid."
他说：“印尼财政赤字很少，债务需求不高，政府外债与消费者债务水平低，外汇储备充裕。印尼银行资金又充足，周转没有问题。”
Optimism for businesses
For investors, last year's peaceful presidential election is seen as ushering in a new era of political stability and optimism. Despite the bombings of two Jakarta hotels in July of 2009, government efforts to prevent terrorism have reassured the business community.
印尼去年和平举行了总统大选。在投资人看来，这是开启了政治稳定与乐观主义的新时代。尽管雅加达2009年7月发生了两起酒店爆炸事件，但政府采取的反恐措施让商界吃了定心丸。
Indonesian Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo says the government's conservative fiscal policies protect investments by keeping down inflation.
印尼财政部长阿古斯·马托哇都朱(Agus Martowardojo)说，政府采取的保守的财政政策持续扼制了通货膨胀，保护了投资环境。
"Most important we would like to manage our budget," said Martowardojo. "Yes, we will provide stimulus but we will not have a budget deficit [of] more than 1.7 percent. And I believe that is the strength of Indonesia."
他说：“最重要的是，我们要管好财政。是的，我们将推出刺激措施，但财政赤字不会超过1.7%。我认为，这就是印尼出众的地方。”
Increased exports
Continued economic reforms and free trade agreements with China and other Asian countries have increased exports of commodities such as timber, coal and silver. And in some industries, such as shoe manufacturing, companies are moving factories and jobs from China to Indonesia.
印尼经济改革继续进行，又同中国和其他亚洲国家签署了自由贸易协定，导致印尼木材、煤炭和白银等大宗商品出口量增加。皮鞋加工等国际产业中，已经有人开始把工厂和工作从中国迁到印尼了。
Not all labor organizations agree with the country's free trade policies. Baso Rukmana, head of Indonesia's National Workers Union, says clothing manufacturers in particular are losing jobs because the government makes it too hard to compete.
并不是所有劳工团体都赞同印尼的自由贸易政策。印尼全国工会(National Workers Union)负责人鲁克马纳(Baso Rukmana)说，车衣产业的工作流失尤其明显，因为政府的政策让竞争变得过于残酷。
Need to improve infrastructure
He says the infrastructure is not ready, the roads are not enough and there is an added cost to production, something they call under-the-table money.
他说：“基础设施没有跟上，公路不够，制造成本又增加了，主要是由于贪污受贿问题严重。”
Corruption remains a significant problem, and some surveys of business managers show it discourages growth. However, the IMF's Zavadjil says it is no worse than in some other Asian countries.
腐败依然是个大问题。一些公司经理调查显示，腐败问题影响到经济增长。但国际货币基金组织代表贾瓦蒂吉尔说，亚洲一些其他国家的腐败与印尼同样严重。
The finance minister says weak infrastructure, particularly the country's air and sea ports, is the most glaring problem inhibiting growth. He says the government has acted to insure that private investments in infrastructure projects that require years to complete would be secure.
财政部长马托哇都朱说，印尼基础设施薄弱，尤其是机场和港口设施更显不足，是妨碍印尼经济发展最显著的问题。他说，政府已经采取行动，确保基础建设的私人投资不会因工期时间长而泡汤。
"If there is any change in the policy, if there is any change of license, if there is any change of administration, will we guarantee them?. I can say now, Ministry of Finance, we are ready. We are ready to guarantee," Martowardojo said.
他说：“政策如果有变，执照如果有变，政府如果有变，我们是否会提供保障呢？我现在可以说，财政部已经做好了准备。我们准备提供保障。”
Although Indonesia's stock market is at record levels, the finance minister notes that other asset prices are not rising quickly, so there is little risk the economy will overheat. He says, and many economists agree, the country is likely to see annual growth of over six percent for the next few years.
尽管印尼股市屡创历史新高，但财政部认为，其它的资产价格并没有跟风上涨，所以印尼经济并未面临过热的风险。马托哇都朱说，印尼经济未来几年的增长率可能会保持在6%以上，很多经济学家表示赞同。 |