Expert warns new minister against making market too liberal

The director of the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) center for economic and public policy studies, Tony Prasetiantono, says Gita Wirjawan is the right person for the trade minister post, but has reminded the newly appointed minister not make Indonesia's market too liberal.

He said Gita’s experiences as the former chief of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) was very important to support the search for new markets for Indonesia's exports, especially amid the ongoing debt crisis in Europe and the US

“I think he has great overseas exposure,” Tony said Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com.

He added, however, that he hoped Gita would not make Indonesia’s market too liberal as former trade minister Mari Elka Pangestu had done.

Tony said the government should provide restrictions to safeguard the domestic market, so that it would not be flooded with imported products.