Although It Has Reached 70 %, President Jokowi Encourages to Increase Budget Absorption

President Jokowi accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla led a Plenary Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Monday (2/11) afternoon

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that according to the report from Minister of Finance that he received on Monday (2/11) morning, the 2015 budget absorption has reached 70 percent. However, because there are two months left, November and December, the President urges government officials to maximize the budget absorption.

“We still have time in November and December. I hope you can concentrate to see the details of what we can implement immediately regarding the budget absorption,” President Jokowi requested it when delivering a remarks in a Plenary Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Monday (2/11) afternoon.

The President called on the ministers and head of non-governmental institutions to immediately decide and take actions in order to meet the 2015 budget absorption target, as well as the target of 92-93-94.

Regarding the 2016 State Budget that has been approved by the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) through a Plenary Session on Friday (30/10), President Jokowi, on the occasion, reminded all to start tender auction as soon as possible, particularly relating with capital and infrastructures expenditure; mainly infrastructures.

“Tender of Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) to be auctioned immediately so they could sign contracts in January and could pay the down payment,” President Jokowi requested.

The President asserted that we do not want economic contraction and economic slow down to happen due to our delay in implementing several tasks that related to capital expenditure, particularly infrastructures expenditure. Therefore, after approved by DPR, President Jokowi asks all to conduct the auction immediately.

The contract signing starts in January, the down payment could be payed in January,” the President said.

The Plenary Cabinet Meeting was attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut B. Panjaitan, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staffs Teten Masduki, Minister of Finance Bambang Brodjonegoro, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Social Affairs Khofifah Indar Parawansa, and  Minister of  Education and Culture Anies Baswedan. (DID/UN/ES) (RAS/MMB/YM/Naster)