"The state budget 2020 has mandated Rp423 trillion for expenditure in infrastructure, some Rp508 trillion for education, and Rp132 trillion for health," Jokowi stated at the opening of a national coordination meeting on public goods and services procurement 2019 here on Wednesday.
In 2019, the budget for education was set at Rp492.5 trillion (some $34 billion).
"Be careful with such huge numbers. The challenge for such a big budget is effective allocation," the president remarked.
Jokowi confirmed that the state expenditure in the subsequent five years will still focus on infrastructure development.
"Infrastructure will remain our priority, but most importantly, it will be in the sector of human resource development. This is our focus, and this budget allocation must be made effectively," the president stated.
Jokowi stressed on the significance of state budget for the national economy.
"Hence, the procurement of goods and services is a key driver to boosting national and regional economic growth. Moreover, in regions where the private sector's support is not strong enough, the regional budget will help to boost economic growth in the respective region," he stated.
Meanwhile, Head of the National Public Goods and Services Procurement Agency (LKKP) Roni Dwi Susanto remarked that until November 2019, e-tendering is still underway for some projects, worth Rp39 trillion, including Rp31.7 trillion of construction projects.
Susanto stated that public procurement will directly encourage national economic growth.
The government's public procurement during the 2015-2019 period had reached Rp5,335 trillion, and by applying e-tendering and e-purchasing, Rp177.93 trillion can be saved.
Translator: Desca Lidya N, Sri Haryati
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
