President Lee calls for aggressive fiscal policy to revive economy

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak ordered his Cabinet Sunday to
waste no time in executing next year's budget if needed to help reinvigorate the
slumping economy, his spokesman said.
Lee presided over an emergency meeting of top government officials, including
Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, on Sunday to discuss next year's budget spending
plan. A day earlier, the National Assembly approved a 284.5 trillion won (US$207
billion) government budget proposal.
"President Lee instructed related ministries to immediately carry out projects
that can be started in December," presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan told
reporters.
The president called for speedy measures so that the people can feel their
effects as early as possible, the spokesman said.
Next year's budget marks a 10.6-percent increase from this year, with the main
focus placed on creating jobs and providing assistance to the underprivileged
people.
The president was also quoted by the spokesman as saying that budget-spending
procedures should be simplified so that planned public construction projects can
be launched at an early date.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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