The government was also improving the management and strategy of development in special autonomous regions such as Papua, West Papua and Aceh, the president said in his state address during a joint session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) here on Tuesday.
He also said the government was continuing to ensure a fair and proportional fiscal decentralization. "From year to year, the pattern of financial relations between the central and regional governments have increasingly shifted and a greater degree transferred to the regions," he said.
According to the head of state, a lot of funds had been transferred either under the schemes of Equity Funds, Special Autonomy Funds, Adjustment Funds or by De-concentration Funds, and Supporting Task schemes, which were all channelled through state ministries or related institutions.
Within a 10-year period (1999-2009), the number of new autonomous regions had reached 205 regions, consisting of seven new provinces, 164 new districts, and 34 new cities.
Now Indonesia has 33 provinces, 398 districts, and 93 cities thanks to the regional autonomy program.
"The changes have brought huge and serious consequences in terms of the State budget, particularly to the higher state`s financial obligations," he said.
The government has prepared a Grand Design for the Structuring of the Regions in Indonesia for the 2010-2025 period.
"We hope this grand design will be beneficial to strengthen our nation`s integration, boost regional economic growth, and improve public services for the people," he said.
(Uu.F001/HAJM/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
