IMF-World Bank meetings in Bali look set to be Indonesia's Olympian moment

JAPAN had its Olympian moment in 1964 and Korea in 1988. Hosting the Olympic Games were a turning point on how the world perceived these two nations. Indonesia would like to believe that 2018 is its Olympian moment - a powerful symbol of a nation coming of age, just like its East Asian neighbours did several decades ago.

However, there is a twist. Indonesia is not hosting the Olympics this year or next (the Games return to Japan in 2020). Starting next week, South-East Asia's largest nation will host the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.

Instead of high-performing athletes, Bali will instead witness the arrival of several thousand economists, policymakers, bankers, and international do-gooders for several days of meetings.