President Jokowi Leads Meeting on National Strategic Project Evaluation

President Jokowi leads a limited meeting on evaluation of national strategic projects at Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java province, Tuesday (09/06).

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ordered his administration to immediately complete all national strategic projects before 2024.

The President gave his order during a limited meeting on national strategic project evaluation at Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java province, Tuesday (09/06).

“Bapak President ordered that all projects in the national scale can be completed physically before 2024,” Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said in his press statement following the meeting.

In addition, President Jokowi underscored that all projects must give real benefits to the Indonesian people, including to create jobs while expressing hope that the projects can bring multiplier effects to the national economy.

According to Airlangga, projects related to agriculture programs, particularly dam infrastructure projects, can reduce poverty rate.

“It can reduce poverty rate because of water availability as well as more and better irrigations, regarding agriculture issues or programs,” he said.

Airlangga pointed out that there are also national strategic projects that are still ongoing, including Karangnongko moving dam; Tuban-Lamongan toll road; Trans Sumatra toll road; Semarang-Demak toll road; biofuel, methanol, and ethanol development in Bojonegoro regency, East Java province; fertilizer factory in Fakfak regency, West Papua province; container port project in Muaro Jambi regency in Jambi province, and Ubadari Square project.

During the limited meeting, President Jokowi also gave a directive that the new Capital of Nusantara (IKN) is stipulated as a national strategic project to ease the development.

“Bapak President also gave a directive to stipulate the [new] capital as a national strategic project as it certainly will ease and accelerate the development of the capital,” Airlangga remarked. (FID/UN) (DH/LW)