US Bilateral Swap Agreement Discussed

VIVAnews - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's visit should be utilized to help Indonesia deal with the current crisis.

"We must take advantage of the meeting," said Bank Mandiri Group Chief Economist, Mirza Adityaswara, on Thursday, Feb. 19.
 
Facilities discussed include bilateral swap agreement such as those that the United States granted to Mexico, Korea and Singapore. "The condition is that there should not be any consequences which may damage Indonesia as it did in 1997," said Adityaswara. In addition, Indonesia may discuss about US market protection against Indonesia's exported products.
 
Adityaswara emphasized that during the current meeting, Indonesia has more bargaining power because the country is economically better than the US economy. "We should be prouder than Clinton because we are better in managing the economy than [the United States]," he said.

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Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono