There is growing optimism that the Paris Club of sovereign creditors will grant Indonesia's request to reschedule US$5.5 billion in debts due between now and the end of 2003. The major question remains as to what period the deferral will be over.

Certainly, the negotiations are keeping Minister of Finance Boediono increasingly busy. His visits to several major creditors such as the United States, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and France,