Sets Infrastructure Budget Of IDR 392 Trillion In 2023, Sri Mulyani Cocks PUPR Minister To Complete Priority Projects Before Jokowi's Cabinet Completes

Screenshot of the press conference of the Financial Note and the 2023 State Budget Bill. (Photo: VOI/Mary Handayani)

JAKARTA - Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani asked PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono to complete priority infrastructure projects before the end of President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) cabinet period in 2024.

The priority projects in question include the construction of roads, airports, railways, bridges, dams, irrigation networks, and flats. This includes infrastructure for new, renewable energy and energy conservation (EBTKE), palapa ring, and internet access in Papua.

"For priority infrastructure, Mr. Bas must complete it before this cabinet period (ends)," he said during a press conference on the Financial Note and the 2023 State Budget Bill, Tuesday, August 16.

Sri Mulyani also said that the infrastructure budget in 2023, the figure will increase to Rp392 trillion, higher than this year's Rp363 trillion. However, lower than 2021.

"But 2021 is not unusual, because Pak Bas has launched quite a lot from 2020. So if apple to apple, next year, infrastructure spending will still be relatively higher in the last four years. This includes ICT infrastructure, roads, bridges and IKN are included here," he explained.

In addition to infrastructure, Sri Mulyani also requested that the construction of the National Capital (IKN) Nusantara project be immediately consolidated with the relevant ministries/institutions. In this case the Ministry of PUPR, KLHK, Ministry of Transportation, BKPM to the Police.

The development referred to includes the construction of facilities and infrastructure; LHK standards; security; making a map of investment opportunities for strategic priority projects and promoting activities in the IKN area.

"Some need to be immediately concentrated on IKN in a measurable way," he said.