Finance Minister: State Budget Bill to Focus on Four Programs

Minister of Finance responds to reporters’ questions in a press statement on Tuesday (28/7). (Photo by: Agung/PR).

Based on President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s directives on a limited meeting (28/7), the 2021 State Budget Bill will be focused on four programs, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani has said.

The four programs, are among others:

First, food security program. “Food security is our first priority. We have received the proposed budget from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, Ministry of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/ National Land Agency, Ministry of Environment and Forestry,” Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani told reporters on Tuesday (28/7).

Regarding food security, she went on to say that programs of expansion of new agricultural land and existing land by the Ministry of Agriculture and expansion of aquaculture by Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries will be fully supported by Ministry of Finance.

“We support the programs. The President also instructed us to focus not only to establish food security but also to create job opportunities since growth, employment, and poverty alleviation are our objectives in 2021,” Sri said.

Second, the President called for supporting industrial sector through revitalizing centers for industrial zones or creating a new one to attract capital inflow.

“That are our priorities which aimed at attracting and developing manufacturing industry and improving investment in industrial sector that will eventually create more job opportunities,” the Minister stated.

Third, the President wanted the State Budget to support infrastructure of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) which can increase productivity of state expenditures.

“Regarding the ICT, Minister of Communication and Technology initiated a program to connect all remote areas, Community Health Centers (Puskesmas), villages, schools, and madrasah (Islamic religious schools). The program needs significant amount of investment that is supported by Ministry of Finance and National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) to ensure all people across the county can be connected,” the Minister explained.

Fourth, education and health programs. In line with an increase in budget deficit, budget allocated for education and health sectors as mandatory spending will increase as well, the proportion is 20 percent for education sector, and 5 percent for health sector.

“According to the President, the budget must be used to improve education sector as the increase in budget will also increase education reserve fund of more than Rp30 trillion and budget for health sector of Rp9 trillion. That are the President’s instructions,” She concluded. (TGH/EN)

Translated by : Rany Anjany
Reviewed by: Yuyu Mulyani