The Indonesian government is set to put large-scale infrastructure projects on hold as it seeks a trade-off to prioritize more urgent needs in food, energy and water security, all of which are pillars of President Prabowo Subianto’s agenda, Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo has said. The budget shift aligns with Prabowo’s priority in the so-called “quick win” initiatives, and existing resources will instead be channeled to programs supporting agriculture, energy and water security, such as revitalizing existing dams and irrigation systems to bolster food production.  The government targets having 259 operational dams by 2025, according to the ministry, a figure deemed sufficient to secure the nation’s food supply.   Funding for new infrastructure is currently frozen at the directive of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Dody further said, pending coordination among ministries under the leadership of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas).The previous administration under president Joko Widodo initially earmarked Rp 116.22 trillion (US$7.33 billion) for the former Public Works and Housing Ministry in next year’s state budget. Prabowo has split the ministry into the Public Works Ministry and the Public Housing and Settlements Ministry. However, much of this funding will now be redirected to critical food security programs rather than initiating new large-scale projects.  He has also urged all ministries to cut down spending on ceremonial events, both national and international, and instead reallocate the saved funds to productive public services and supporting the administration’s costly priority programs, including the free meals program and public housing. Other priority programs include health care, such as free medical check-ups and improved hospitals in the regions, as well as education, such as renovating schools and constructing “distinguished schools”.Source: https://www.thejakartapost.com/business/2024/11/19/govt-halts-big-infrastructure-in-trade-off-for-food-security-minister.html (ICE GIACARTA)

Fonte notizia: The Jakarta Post, 18 November 2024