Sulawesi Finally Has A Train, Sri Mulyani Asks Ministry Of Transportation Employees To Take Optimal Utilization Of The State Budget

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi and Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani (Doc. Ministry of Transportation)

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi and Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani briefed Ministry of Transportation employees throughout Indonesia in order to prepare a Work Plan and Budget for the Ministry of Transportation in 2024.

In front of the Ministry of Transportation employees, Sri Mulyani asked all levels of the Ministry of Transportation to optimally utilize the APBN, which can produce transportation infrastructure that can be felt by the community's positive impacts.

The Minister of Finance said that the role of the Ministry of Transportation in economic recovery is very crucial. "With the availability of interconnected modes of transportation, it can help economic recovery. Connectivity is vital," said Sri Mulyani, quoted on Saturday, February 11.

He also appreciated the good cooperation carried out by the Ministry of Transportation in the use of the APBN in the Makassar-Parepare train construction project.

"Finally, Sulawesi has her first train. Make this project an evaluation and pay attention to the aspects that can be streamlined," he said.

He also asked the ranks of the Ministry of Transportation to make policies, so as not to think wrongly which would have an impact on wrong planning and budgeting. "Think about the consequences of each step taken," he said.

Furthermore, Sri Mulyani reminded the Ministry of Transportation to pay attention to state assets, in this case existing transportation infrastructure. "Assets from the state budget should not be allowed to sleep. It must be utilized as well as possible for the benefit of the community," he said.

To meet the needs of transportation infrastructure development in accordance with the 2020-2024 Ministry of Transportation Strategic Plan, a budget allocation of IDR 711 trillion is needed, with funding from the APBN of IDR 340.16 trillion.

Meanwhile, the remaining Rp370.84 trillion will be encouraged through non-APBN or Creative Financing creative funding through the Government and Business Entity Cooperation (KPBU) scheme, Utilization Cooperation (KSP), increasing the role of SOEs, SBSN, and pure private investment.

Meanwhile, creative funding is carried out for strategic infrastructure and has high economic value, while funding for the state budget through pure rupiah, PNBP, and BLU is focused on improving human resources for transportation and infrastructure funding in disadvantaged, remote, outermost and border areas (3TP) which are financially unfavorable, with the aim of equitable development.

Just so you know, from year to year, the sources of PNBP and BLU funds within the Ministry of Transportation have increased. In 2020, the percentage of PNBP sources of total budget ceilings will be 8.23 percent, in 2021 it will be 9.72 percent, and in 2022 it will be 11.31 percent.

Meanwhile, the source of BLU funds in 2020 is 3.46 percent, in 2021 it is 3.71 percent, and in 2022 it is 4.80 percent. PNBP and BLU will continue to be optimized as one of the funding instruments through the APBN, by prioritizing good service to the community.

The policy direction and work program of the Ministry of Transportation in 2024 will be aligned with the Government's 2024 Work Plan, where the infrastructure budget is directed to provide basic services, improve connectivity, and support for economic recovery. In addition, the Ministry of Transportation is also ready to support the holding of Simultaneous General Elections, the relocation of early-stage IKN, and the sustainability of development.

The policies that will be implemented are strengthening digital infrastructure and encouraging logistics and connectivity efficiency that supports industrial and tourism areas. Then, carry out labor-intensive activities to maintain national economic resilience, improve the consistency of transportation facilities and infrastructure services, and complete priority activities.