Indonesia’s Widodo aims for highest GDP in five years

ndonesia's President Joko Widodo, center, delivers his State of The Nation address ahead of the country's Independence Day at the parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017. - Reuters

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s economy is forecast to expand at the fastest pace in five years as higher tax revenue allows President Joko Widodo to trim the budget deficit while ramping up spending on building roads, bridges and seaports.

South-East Asia’s largest economy may grow 5.4% next year, the highest rate since 2013, Widodo, known as Jokowi, said in an address to the parliament yesterday that outlined spending priorities as well as key assumptions and risks for the economy in 2018.