Jakarta banks on stronger GDP growth in 2018 budget

Jakarta

INDONESIAN President Joko Widodo on Wednesday proposed a state budget for 2018 that assumes an acceleration in growth to fund a series of measures aimed at addressing inequality in South-east Asia's biggest economy.

In an address to Parliament, Mr Widodo said the main focus of his fiscal policy next year was fairer distribution of growth, including targeting the building of infrastructure and developing border areas.

The president said the budget - which sees a deficit of 2.19 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) - was "credible and sustainable", though some economists described it as…