Minister Of Transportation Budi Karya Brings Good News: The National Economic Recovery Program Can Increase Consumption By 8 Percent

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi said that the national economic recovery budget (PEN) was able to increase public consumption by 8 percent. He considered that the program was able to maintain economic growth so as not to be further depressed by the pandemic.

Furthermore, according to Budi, the fiscal policy taken by the government in handling the COVID-19 pandemic is very appropriate and the results are satisfactory. This is reflected in the economic growth in the second quarter of this year which reached 7 percent.

According to Budi, the 7 percent economic growth is the highest in the last 16 years.

"Economic growth that has occurred perfectly is supported by strong growth both on the demand and supply sides. Here the government in the PEN program encourages consumption to grow to 8 percent," he said in a webinar, Friday, October 8.

Furthermore, Budi said the economic growth was also influenced by the massive infrastructure development carried out by the government. Budi said this effort was able to increase inter-regional connectivity which resulted in reduced price disparities in suburban areas.

In the future, said Budi, the government will develop the area starting from the outskirts. The goal is to bring justice to all Indonesian people.

"Besides that, it is also to facilitate the mobility of people and goods as well as make the prices of basic necessities more affordable and price disparities more controlled," he said.

Budi emphasized that infrastructure development is the main requirement for economic development and is an important key to economic growth. Moreover, currently entering the era of globalization which is marked by the modernization of all fields.

"In responding to this era, the transportation sector must also prepare for challenges. For example, the implications for transportation are currently the birth of online applications," he said.