Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Budget for the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-World Bank (WB) meetings was largely utilized for repairing and developing infrastructure on the Island of Bali as the host of the event, President Joko Widodo stated.

"The budget is used to expand the apron at Bali Airport and to make tunnels at intersections in Bali, so that it will not get stuck. This means that we will thereafter continue to use it. It is not something that is missing," the president noted at the University of Sumatera Utara (USU) in Medan on Monday.

According to the president, Indonesia is fully prepared to hold the IMF-WB Annual Meetings.

He ensured that Indonesia will benefit from the implementation of international events.

"An annual meeting of that size, 15 thousand (people) who came, has become a bone of contention for all countries. This is because such a meeting would have an impact at least in terms of presenting a good image of the country at the meeting," the president noted in a statement from the Deputy Protocol, Press and Media Bey Machmudin that was received by ANTARA.

The number of participants, reaching some 34 thousand, is expected to boost tourist visits and increase foreign exchange into the country.

"We hope this will only strengthen our promotion of tourist attractions in Indonesia. I think the direction is there," the president noted.

The IMF-WB 2018 annual meetings are being held in Nusa Dua, Bali, on October 8-14, 2018.

Several facilities -- x-ray smartlane, automatic immigration gate engine, oration zone, and airport operation control center -- were also built by PT Angkasa Pura I at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport.

According to calculations of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), the direct economic impact is estimated to reach Rp5.9 trillion for the construction of several infrastructure: the Ngurah Rai underpass, Benoa Port, the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue, and the Suwung garbage dump, and operational costs.

Meanwhile, the guests and delegates are expected to contribute hundreds of trillions of rupiah in foreign exchange to cater to their needs and accommodation during the IMF-WB meetings.

Reporting by Bayu Prasetyo
Editing by Eliswan, Rahmad Nasution

Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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