Joko urges 'massive' cut in red tape to revive growth

Jakarta

INDONESIAN President Joko Widodo on Wednesday urged ministers in his newly reshuffled cabinet to spend their budgets and called for a "massive" cut in red tape to revive slowing growth in South-east Asia's largest economy.

Many economists say growth this year will miss a government target of 5to 5.2 per cent, as several of the president's ambitious plans to improve infrastructure have been entangled in red tape. "The president considers it important that the government implement massive deregulation to ease licensing for businesses, investment and procurement of goods and services," presidential spokesman Teten Masduki said in a statement.