Indonesia finance minister says will work central bank to strengthen the rupiah

[HONG KONG] Indonesia's finance minister said on Monday he will work with the central bank to strengthen the rupiah, which hit a near 17-year low against the dollar last week.

"The government is committed to co-ordinate with the central bank to strengthen the rupiah," said Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro at a conference in Hong Kong.

He also said the government must "be more serious" in reducing the current account deficit, which reached around 3 per cent last year.

REUTERS