Jakarta – Indonesia's new chief economics minister, Aburizal Bakrie, said his office is pro-business and will seek to improve the government's partnership with the business sector.

Bakrie, who was a leading businessman and former chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), said he would study the possibility of reducing or abolishing some taxes and offering more tax incentives to boost business growth.

He said he would meet with Kadin to discuss the possibility of abolishing luxury sales tax and excluding some goods from the category of luxurious goods.

He also said he would seek not to increase the country's debt but did not go so far as to say the government would stop seeking loans. Kadin chairman Moh. S. Hidayat said he hoped that Bakrie would simplify regulations in the business sector.

Hidayat said he was confident Bakrie could cope with the growing state budget deficit and soaring oil prices, and issue regulations to revive the real sector to create employment.