Jokowi's 233 National Strategic Projects Targets Impossible To Fulfill

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) while talking with PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono. (Photo: Setkab)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) was asked to re-evaluate the target of the National Strategic Project (PSN). The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) assesses that amidst the current difficult situation, 233 projects targeted for completion in 2024 cannot be fulfilled.

Head of Center of Food, Energy and Sustainable Development INDEF, Abra Talattov said, based on data from the Committee for the Acceleration of Priority Infrastructure Provision (KPPIP), the realization of PSN should be in the spotlight. Because, until the end of 2019 the realization had not yet reached 50 percent or 39.5 percent. This means that out of 233 new projects, 92 projects have been completed.

"This will be a big risk that the ambition to complete PSN 233 to 2024 feels difficult or even impossible to achieve," he said, in a virtual discussion, Monday, November 2.

Abra said that the small number of completed projects also had an impact on the investment value. In fact, the investment value of PSN has only been realized 11.17 percent or IDR 467.4 trillion of the target of IDR 4,183 trillion. On that basis, he is pessimistic that the target can be achieved in 2024.

"Can you imagine that the investment in 5 years ago was only around 11 percent. Is it possible to pursue an investment with a total requirement of IDR 4,183 trillion in the next 4 years? At a time when the current economic condition is very sick. Both from the state budget and private sector, BUMN is in the midst of COVID-19. 19, "he said.

According to Abra, the government could revise the target again because it would be difficult to achieve. Moreover, the government has also used to revise PSN targets, such as at first there were 225 projects based on Presidential Decree No. 3 of 2016. Then it was revised based on Presidential Decree No. 58 of 2017 to become 245 projects, and changed to 223 projects after the existence of Perpres 56 of 2018.

Furthermore, Abra said, if many of these projects were not completed, it would be a burden for the government after President Jokowi. So, a solution must be found in making it happen.

"When the government feels that these projects are increasingly unrealistic to be accelerated, the government should also be able to do refocusing or evaluation. Because this will be President Jokowi's government's agenda 2 for this period. Do not fail or have not completed this project become a burden to the next government," he said. .