Banda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has promised to raise the budget for village fund to Rp70 trillion in 2019 from Rp60 trillion this year.

"We would continue to increase the budget for village fund. In 2019 the government would provide Rp70 trillion," the president said when socializing the priorities in the use of village fund in the building of AAC Dayan Dawood Unsyiah, Banda Aceh, on Friday.

Thousands of invitees mainly village chiefs and apparatus yelled in excitement "long live Jokowi" in hearing the president`s announcement.

The socialization program was also attended by Minister of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Region, and Transmigration Eko Putro Sandjojo, and regional leaders including the acting Governor of Aceh, regents and city mayors.

The president, however, warned the local leaders that fund could be used for rural infrastructure development to support rural economic development.

The president went on to say village funds must be properly spent to boost rural economic growth .

Minister of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Region, and Transmigration Eko Putro Sandjojo said the budget for village fund has increased from year to year.

"Every year the village fund increases . In 2016 it was Rp40 trillion , up to Rp60 trillion in 2018. In 2019 the President decided to raise the amount to Rp70 trillion," Eko Putro Sandjojo said.

Reporting by Irman Yusuf
Editing by Suharto

Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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