Briefing The Retret Of Regional Heads, Sri Mulyani Highlights Budget Efficiency

Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani. (ANTARA)

Budget efficiency policies not only occur in the central government, but there are a number of budget posts in local governments that are also affected by cuts.

For this reason, the Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani said that the local government (Pemda) can carry out financing creativity, without having to fully depend on the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) or the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD).

He explained that there are many financing schemes that can be collaborated with various parties, including the private sector. He appreciated the local government for being creative in financing development.

He realized that this step requires the commitment of stakeholders.

However, he emphasized, if infrastructure development only relies on the APBD and APBN, then the process will take a long time. Because the development will depend on the state's financial condition.

"In many countries, building various infrastructures is not always 100 percent of the APBD or APBN, because if you want to wait for the APBD or APBN, it can take a long time," he said when speaking at the Regional Head Briefing Retret in the Military Academy (Akmil) Valley. Magelang.

He explained various infrastructure development sectors that can be collaborated with innovative financing schemes.

According to him, while the development can generate income, innovative financing can be done. This is like providing clean water, waste management, and hospital services.

"It can actually be built by the private sector with creative financing instruments," he said.

The Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu), he said, has made various instruments to produce creativity in development financing. Therefore, infrastructure development can still be carried out by the regions even though the number of APBDs is limited as long as they want to innovate.

"But indeed it takes a lot of hard work, commitments, and also expertise from a financial perspective," he said.

If he is hesitant to carry out financing creativity, he advises the local government to consult with related parties, including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), and law enforcement officials.

He assured the local government not to worry, during the steps taken to support development.

“Kalau benar-benar mau membangun untuk sesuatu yang create growth, menciptakan pertumbuhan, kesempatan kerja, perbaikan kesejahteraan, menurut saya kita semuanya bisa bekerja,” ujarnya.

Dirinya berharap, retret yang digelar Kemendagri tersebut menjadi momentum bagi para kepala daerah untuk saling berkomunikasi, sekaligus melihat instrumen yang dapat dikolaborasikan satu sama lain. Pihaknya akan terus mendukung kepala daerah agar dapat bekerja dengan baik dalam membangun daerahnya masing-masing.

"The Ministry of Finance will continue to support so that ladies and gentlemen successfully protect the region, develop regions, use the finances of the APBD and APBN, state finances properly as an important instrument in advancing Indonesia," he said.