Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Least developed regions should not merely depend on state budget in carrying out their development because they could also utilize their natural resources, Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa said.

"I think with this idea least developed regions in the country could carry out their development," the coordinating minister for economic affairs said here on Monday.

The minister made the remark when he opened a national meeting of the least developed districts at Sahid Jaya Hotel.

He said that so far disadvantaged regions had depended on the state budget in carrying out their development but now regions were expected to use other ways, the utilization of their natural resources, in developing themselves.

The minister said that acceleration of disadvantaged regions` development could be done by empowering natural resources as a means of growth.

He said that least developed regions in Indonesia were divided into three parts, namely regions in East Indonesia which covered 128 districts or 70 percent were least developed, regions in border areas consisting of 27 districts and regions formed as a result of regional divisions.(*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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