"This IMF meeting is very good because the government, as a regulator, does not always meet investors. We do not know their preferences and what they want," Sumadi noted during the 2018 Infrastructure Forum in Jimbaran, Bali, on Thursday.
The Minister of Transportation views transportation infrastructure as a sector that is resistant to the risks of economic turmoil. Important projects, such as Patimban and projects with high local content, continue to be carried out.
Sumadi also stated that he would still boost projects with large investments that had not yet begun, such as the Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed train and the East-West direction MRT in Jakarta.
"My hope is that the unfavorable global climate will not last long. So on one side, we are still optimistic about the projects, but we also see which will have an impact," he added.
The construction of transportation infrastructure requires funds of around Rp1,150 trillion, while the state budget (APBN) can only provide approximately half of it.
The government needs participation from the private sector for investment in infrastructure development, with a scheme of public-private partnership (PPP).
Priority projects offered by the Minister of Transportation include Komodo Airport, Labuan Bajo, and the Makassar-Parepare railway line. The development of railway connectivity in Makassar-Parepare is important in the distribution of cement produced by three companies.
"We give more priority to the development of Komodo Airport because Labuan Bajo is one of the tourism destinations that is favored to attract foreign and domestic tourists," Sumadi revealed.
Reporting by Calvin Basuki
Editing by Andi Abdussalam, Yoseph Hariyadi
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
