National Strategic Programs Must Reduce Poverty, President Jokowi Says
President Jokowi chairs a Limited Meeting on Evaluation of the Implementation of National Strategic Projects and Priority Programs of West Sumatra Province, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Wednesday (2/8). (Photo: PR/Rahmat)
President Joko Jokowi Widodo asked for an explanation of the development of national strategic projects related to the construction of the 80-kilometer-long Bukit Tinggi-Padang Panjang-Lubuk Alung-Padang Highway and also the 185-kilometer-long Pekanbaru-Bangkinang-Payakumbuh-Bukittinggi Highway.
“As you may be aware, the construction of highway in Pekanbaru has started, yesterday Pekanbaru-Dumai. Please explain me about its development,” President Jokowi said in a Limited Meeting on Evaluation of the Implementation of National Strategic Projects and Priority Programs in West Sumatra Province, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Wednesday (2/8) afternoon.
The national strategic programs, according to the President, are very important to encourage the acceleration of economic development in West Sumatra and its surrounding areas. So, the implementation in the field must be really monitored, and later the utilization is also really optimal for the progress of the region and the welfare of the people. “I want to reiterate that the national strategic projects should really have a perceived impact on the benefits of promoting regional economic growth,” the President firmly said.
The President noted that the economy in West Sumatera Province in Q1 2017 grew by 4.91 percent, good enough. However, the President requested that the programs should also be a trigger in efforts to reduce unemployment, inequality, and poverty.
In addition, President Jokowi requested to consider the priority programs, both which are sourced from the State Budget (APBN) and the Regional Budget (APBD). “Do scrutinize the extent to which the implementation of the program could reach the underprivileged in West Sumatra at 6.87 percent and reduce unemployment which still stood at 5.8 percent,” President Jokowi explained.
Also attending the Limited Meeting were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of Communications and Informatics Rudiantara, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya, Minister of Education Muhadjir Effendy, Minister of Social Affairs Khofifah Indar Parawansa, Minister of Health Nila Moeloek, Minister of National Development Planning/Head of National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) Bambang Brodjonegoro, Minister of State-owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartanto, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (BPN) Sofyan Djalil, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan, Head of the Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Thomas Lembong and Governor of West Sumatra Irwan Prayitno. (FID/RAH/ES) (MUR/YM/Naster).
