Basri stated that one of the solutions to offset the negative impact of US monetary tightening is to curb the current account deficit further. Since the record high current account deficit in the second quarter of 2013 (USD $9.9 billion), it has eased to USD $8.4 billion and USD $4.0 billion in the third and fourth quarter of 2013. This moderating trend helped to regain confidence of international investors causing Indonesia's benchmark stock index and rupiah exchange rate to be one of the world's best performers in 2014.

After the FOMC meeting on Wednesday (19/03), Chairwoman Janet Yellen said that the Federal Reserve will continue to cut its bond-buying program by USD $10 billion per month and aims for an interest rate hike in 2015 (from 0.25 percent to 1.0 percent) and in 2016 (to 2.25 percent). This immediately resulted in capital outflows from emerging markets the following day.

However, slowing economic growth of China, Japan and India, as seen in the first quarter of 2014, also forms a risk to Indonesia's economic expansion as these three countries are strategic partners of Indonesia, both in terms of trade and investment.

Bahas