Indonesia posts narrowest budget deficit in six years in 2018

Jakarta

INDONESIA posted its smallest fiscal deficit in six years in 2018 and less than initially projected, despite turbulence in its financial markets due to capital outflows, its finance minister said on Wednesday.

The estimated budget gap last year was equal to 1.76 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), narrower than both the government's original plan of 2.19 per cent and the latest previous estimate of 1.83 per cent, making it the smallest deficit since 2012, Sri Mulyani Indrawati told a news conference.