Seeing the indicators, we are confident ..."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has described as improving the state budget performance, both in income and spending in the first four months of this year.
"Realization of the state budget until April 30 , 2018 showed a better record," Sri Mulyani told reporters in a news conference here on state budget performance on Thursday.
Sri Mulyani said the improvement was obvious from the realization of budget deficit of Rp55.1 trillion or 0.37 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) , lower than deficit recorded by the end of April in 2017.
In the same period last year, the budget deficit was Rp72.2 trillion or around 0.53 percent of the GDP.
"Seeing the indicators, we are confident, the deficit could remain under control at around two percent or around the level of 2.19 percent as set in the state budget law ," the minister said.
She said realization of budget deficit included state income which already reached Rp527.8 trillion and state budget of Rp582.9 trillion.
The state budget consisted of tax revenues at Rp416.9 trillion , non tax state revenue at Rp109.9 trillion and grant at Rp1 trillion.
State expenditures consisted of central government spending at Rp331 trillion and transfers to the regions and village funds at Rp251.9 trillion.
Realization by the central government included spending by cabinet ministries and state agencies at Rp165.9 trillion and spending by non ministries/government agencies at Rp165.1 trillion.
To make up for the budget deficit, government debt servicing was reduced to Rp187.2 trillion or slightly less than Rp195.4 trillion in the same period last year.
Sri Mulyani said improvement in the realization of budget deficit contributed to improvement in primary balance, which recorded a surplus of Rp24.2 trillion .
The primary balance surplus of Rp24.2 trillion were better than Rp3.7 trillion recorded in by the the end of April, 2017.
"The primary balance surplus indicated that our state budget consistently improved in deficit," the minister said .
When giving a general lecture at the state University of Indonesia on Wednesday, Sri Mulyani said the government was prudent in state budget management to ensure that the budget deficit would not exceed 3 percent.
She cited when the state budget deficit was 2.7 percent - close to 3 percent in 2017, the government cut its spending for sectors considered not efficient. This year, the deficit is set at 2.19 percent.
The minister said she was aware that economy has become a hot issue in public debates especially in social media.
"This Republic is described as if about to plunge to bankruptcy because of Government debts," she said, adding explanation seems to have no effect.
She said in discussing the materials of state budget, the government always involved the Parliament held in a hearing about spending and revenues.
Debates at parliament covered even minor issues , tax revenues and oil prices, she said.
She defended the high priority given by President Joko Widodo on infrastructure development.
"What the President has done was not a hobby, but for the interest of the people. The result is already felt especially outside Java," she said.
Transport is much better with many new airport, she added.
"If you are from regions out of Java you will feel it," she said.
(Uu.H-ASG/H-YH)
Reporter: -
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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