Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is preparing a national program to develop self-sufficiency zones for food, water, and energy under a presidential directive aimed at accelerating the country's strategic infrastructure agenda.

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan said the plan is guided by Presidential Instruction No. 14/2025 and Presidential Decree No. 19/2025.

The policy aims to fast-track the development of integrated zones to strengthen Indonesia’s long-term resource security.

"There are two legal foundations — an instruction and a decree — focused on accelerating the development of national food, energy, and water self-sufficiency zones," Zulkifli told reporters in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The instruction mandates inter-ministerial coordination to avoid fragmented efforts and ensure alignment with the 2026 national budget.

Zulkifli has been appointed chair of the task force overseeing the initiative, which includes 27 ministries and agencies.

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Priority locations under consideration include Wanam in South Papua, as well as areas in Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and South Sumatra.

"The instruction asks us to coordinate and integrate efforts across ministries to establish unified policy direction," he said.

"This will ensure the program is implemented efficiently and in line with funding priorities," he added.

The government has allocated around IDR 8 trillion (USD510 million) for the initial phase, which includes the development of new rice fields in priority regions.

The funds are currently under the Ministry of Agriculture but have not yet been disbursed.

"That IDR eight trillion is just for rice field development. It doesn't include other components. We want to move fast, but we must do it prudently and in line with regulations," Zulkifli said.

The program will also incorporate renewable energy development as part of its broader infrastructure mandate, he added.

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Translator: Arnidhya Nur, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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