"Up to 2014, we have planned to distribute about US$1.7 billion for infrastructure development of basic infrastructure, we are focusing on providing funds for the supporting infrastructure facilities," the Deputy Director of ADB for Indonesia, Edimon
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will focus on distributing infrastructure development funds in Indonesia in an effort to boost domestic and international connectivity in the region.

"Up to 2014, we have planned to distribute about US$1.7 billion for infrastructure development of basic infrastructure, we are focusing on providing funds for the supporting infrastructure facilities," the Deputy Director of ADB for Indonesia, Edimon Ginting, told the press here on Monday.

"The projects we will fund involve, among other things, the construction of geothermal power plants as well as road projects that are not being covered by the government," he said.

"The connecting roads, whose construction will be funded by us, will provide improved access to rural areas and support the government`s sustainable and inclusive economic development goals," Ginting continued.

"For example, Papua and Maluku are connected by sea through a ship only once in every 19 days. Such conditions lead to high transportation fees," he pointed out.

Therefore, ADB has already provided loans worth US$300 million to support the Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI).

"ADB has also distributed US$70 million in funds for the development of road infrastructure in 2012," Ginting noted.

"The funds are being equally distributed through two channels - the government and the private sector, which includes bank and infrastructure finance companies," he explained.

"By the end of 2020, ADB will ideally have distributed 50 percent of the total funds through the private sector, while the rest will be through the government," Ginting added. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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