Indef Asks Government Not To Efficiency In Training And Assistance

Rupiah (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) encourages the government not to include educational and technical training/training activities (diklat/bimtek), analysis studies, infrastructure budgets, and government assistance, into the latest budget efficiency posts.

"I feel that it is not appropriate, such as efficiency in study and analysis posts, training and technical guidance, government assistance, and infrastructure," said Indef Executive Director Esther Sri Astuti when contacted in Jakarta, Saturday.

He explained that the reason for the efficiency of the budget for technical guidance and training was deemed inappropriate because efforts to improve competence (envelope) as part of human resource development were reduced. Whereas the quality of human resources is an input factor for economic growth.

Furthermore, reducing the study and analysis budget means that the policies to be made are not based on comprehensive evidence and research. This results in policies that tend to be biased and the solutions produced have the potential to be irrelevant to problems.

Meanwhile, efficiency in government assistance is considered inappropriate because the incentives provided basically can spur economic growth if given to productive activities.

"Infrastructure can also be said to be capital expenditure. If reduced it has the potential to reduce connectivity and this slows economic activity. As a result, economic growth has slowed down," he said.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati signed a new regulation regarding the implementation of budget efficiency as stated in the Minister of Finance Regulation (PMK) Number 56 of 2025.

The government has implemented a budget efficiency policy this year as directed by Presidential Instruction (Inpres) 1 of 2025. This policy is planned to continue in the 2026 fiscal year. So, there needs to be a rule to regulate the procedures for implementing budget efficiency.

Types of expenditure that are targeted for efficiency include goods expenditure, capital expenditure, or other expenditures according to the president's direction. Meanwhile, from the type of goods, efficiency is carried out on:

1. Office stationery 2. Ceremonial activity 3. Meetings, seminars, and the like 4. Studies and analysis 5. Diklat and bimtek

6. Honor output of professional activities and services 7. Printing and souvenir 8. Rental of buildings, vehicles, and equipment 9. License of application 10. Consultant service

11. Government assistance 12. Maintenance and maintenance 13. Official travel 14. Equipment and machinery 15. Infrastructure