Corruption Remains Main Obstacle for Business Development in Indonesia : Official

Jakarta (Antara) - Corruption is considered among the foremost factors hampering business development in Indonesia, in addition to inefficient bureaucracy and lack of infrastructure, Vice Minister of Transportation Bambang Susantono said on Tuesday. "A survey conducted by the World Economic Forum recently found that 19.3 percent of the respondents believed that corruption had disturbed business activities in Indonesia," Bambang said. Further citing data from the survey, Bambang pointed out that 15 percent of the respondents had chosen bureaucratic inefficiency as the factor hampering business in Indonesia followed by 9.1 percent, who thought it was a lack of infrastructure. Another survey conducted by Berlin-based NGO Transparency International stated that Indonesia's efforts to eradicate corruption from the country were progressing. The survey called the Corruption Perception Index 2013 was released last week on Tuesday and placed Indonesia at the 114th position among the 177 countries being evaluated by the NGO. The latest ranking is a positive development, considering that Indonesia was ranked 118th last year. According to Transparency International Indonesia, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had successfully uncovered corruption cases involving high ranking officials and parliament members during the past one year. However, more challenges are expected as Indonesia plans to hold a general election next year. Transparency International highlighted the need for transparency in the use of campaign funds and evaluating the track record of parliament members or candidates ahead of the election. The NGO also called on the Indonesian people to be more active in ensuring a more transparent and accountable election in 2014. The global Corruption Perceptions Index 2013 adjudged Denmark and New Zealand as the least corrupt, while Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia were the worst performers this year. (*)