Vice President Jusuf Kalla stated that Indonesia has the potential to achieve a growth rate similar to China and India if it addresses its infrastructure issues and attracts more foreign investment. Despite experiencing its fastest growth in 11 years at 6.3 percent, Indonesia still lags behind China and India, which are expected to grow at 11.5 percent and 9 percent respectively. Kalla expressed confidence in Indonesia's ability to reach such growth rates by improving infrastructure and creating a more favorable environment for investors. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, elected in 2004, promised to address corruption, boost growth, and create jobs. Kalla mentioned that the government is working on overcoming obstacles to growth, such as corruption and labor laws that deter investors. The wealthy businessman from Indonesia's Sulawesi island stated that this is a period of change. With a presidential election scheduled for 2009, Kalla is being viewed as a potential rival to Yudhoyono rather than his partner. When questioned about his intentions to run alongside or against Yudhoyono, Kalla indicated that the decision would be made in 2009 and it would not be solely his personal choice, but also a decision of the party. Despite leading the prominent Golkar party in parliament, Kalla did not dismiss the possibility of running for president. Kalla expressed optimism about the economy despite recent struggles with the rupiah, attributing the currency's weakness to concerns about high oil prices and government fuel subsidies. He reassured that the central bank would address the issue, mentioning their typical intervention when the rupiah falls between 9,300 and 9,500 per dollar. Kalla, who expressed confidence in the economy's ability to meet a government growth target of 6.8 percent next year, stated that there are no plans to cut or reduce fuel subsidies in Indonesia, which are politically sensitive. Past cuts in subsidies have resulted in riots, and with elections scheduled for 2009, it is unlikely that the government will make any cuts. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati mentioned that energy subsidies could reach 88.2 trillion rupiah ($9.37 billion) this year, exceeding the 55.6 trillion rupiah allocated in the 2007 budget. Kalla also downplayed the importance of nuclear energy for Indonesia, citing budget constraints, safety concerns, and the country's preference for alternative energy sources like geothermal and hydropower. Despite Indonesia's plans to build its first nuclear plant by 2016, environmentalists have expressed worries about the potential for a nuclear accident given the country's frequent earthquakes. Kalla believes that it is appropriate for Indonesia, which possesses a significant portion of the world's tropical rainforests, to urge wealthier nations to contribute financially in order to protect forests and combat global warming. Indonesia is supporting a program that seeks to allow emission reductions from forests to be traded as carbon credits. If this initiative receives backing at the upcoming UN climate change conference in Bali, experts predict that Indonesia could earn over $13 billion by conserving its forests. Kalla emphasized the importance of global responsibility in preventing the exploitation of Indonesian timber by wealthier nations.