Indonesia's foreign exchange reserve may reach 43 bln USD

The Indonesian central bank said Monday the country's foreign exchange reserve could reach 43 billion U.S. dollars by the end of the year, which would enable the government to repay remaining debts from the International Monetary Fund.

The international reserves are moving constantly in the upward trend and already reached some 42 billion dollars in August, Bank Indonesia Governor Gubernur Burhanuddin Abdullah said in the sidelines of a hearing with parliament members here.

"The foreign exchange reserves are estimated to amount 43 billion dollars at the end of 2006," he said.

"If the international reserves are enough to finance imports for 4.5 months, the debts (from IMF) will be paid off."

Indonesia in June paid half of the remaining debts to the IMF and currently still owes 3.8 billion dollars.

Source: Xinhua