Head Of BKF: Ministry Of Finance Ensures The State Budget Deficit Is Managed Well

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) ensures that the deficit in the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) is still well managed.

"We manage well (the deficit) well. Currently, we can quite manage the risk well," said Head of the Fiscal Policy Agency (BKF) of the Ministry of Finance Febrio Kacaribu to reporters after halal bihalal activities at the Ministry of Finance in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Thursday, April 25.

His statement was in response to the Government Work Plan (RKP) 2025 which stated that the budget deficit target increased to 2.45 percent to 2.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) from 2.29 percent this year.

In addition to the deficit, the 2025 RKP also stated that the ratio of government debt to GDP is estimated to increase to the level of 39.77 percent to 40.14 percent in the fiscal year.

That target is also higher than the target this year, where the 2024 debt ratio target is set at the level of 38.26 percent.

Responding to this, Febrio said the debt ratio target was still in process. He asked the public to wait for the results of the process of drafting the budget plan next year.

"Later we will follow the process. This is the cycle process, it is clear that the preparation of the APBN begins with the Macro Economic Framework and the Principles of Fiscal Policy (KEM-PPKF), then there is RKP. This will be the process in the DPR. So, we just follow the process, "he explained.

Previously, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati stated that the government had agreed to keep the 2025 State Budget deficit below 3 percent.

"It is agreed that the commitment to maintain a deficit below 3 percent will be maintained so that the discipline of the state budget can be maintained and that is also to improve quality and stability so that the government can only focus on delegating its priority programs," said Finance Minister Sri Mulyani after discussing the composition of the 2025 RAPBN at the State Palace, Jakarta, Friday (5/4).

He stated that the government is still sharpening various designs and postures of the 2025 State Budget, but still maintains the political process properly.

"So that it does not cause problems regarding perception or in terms of legitimacy from the process of drafting the APBN itself. So, we will still compile the 2025 State Budget," said Sri Mulyani.

In addition, he said, communication with the new government will also be carried out regarding the priority programs that will be implemented.