Indonesia’s day in the sun

Following years of reform, Indonesia has finally emerged as Asia's latest economic powerhouse.

Not long ago, Indonesia was considered a basket case hit by the Asian crisis and mired in autocracy and violence. Now it's a largely peaceful democracy that has gradually opened up its economy, got its inflation and public debt under control 6% and 25% of GDP respectively and gained a reputation as a new Asian powerhouse.

"Long overshadowed by China and India, Indonesia is finally enjoying its day in the sun," says Joe Cochrane in The New York Times. Growth in Asia's top two economies has moved down a gear, but Indonesia has kept humming. Annual GDP growth has averaged 5.4% since 2000; in the global crisis of 2009 it merely dipped below 5%.

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