"There are two tasks that I have to uphold---fiscal and economic stability," Finance Minister Bambang Soemantri Brojonegoro said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Finance Minister Bambang Soemantri Brojonegoro has pledged to maintain the countrys national economic and fiscal resilience in line with President Joko Widodos directives in the first cabinet meeting on Monday.

"There are two tasks that I have to uphold---fiscal and economic stability," he said after the inauguration ceremony at his ministry here on Monday.

Along with 34 others, Brojonegoro was installed as a member of the working cabinet of President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Monday.

Led by President Jokowi and Vice President Kalla, the first cabinet meeting was held after the inauguration ceremony.

Brojonegoro assured that he would carry out the tasks of stabilizing the fiscal and economic sectors by maintaining the national budget so that it does not surpass the deficit target. He added that he would coordinate with other stakeholders in the financial sectors, as well.

"I will be responsible for maintaining the countrys fiscal resilience through budget instruments, as well as the stability of the financial and economic systems, with my colleagues in the financial task force coordination forum," he noted.

The newly-installed minister pointed out that various external pressures had the potential to disrupt national economic stability in 2015 and so efforts to maintain fiscal stability would be the main priority in the macro-economic field.

"To keep up with the normalization of the U. S. monetary policy next year, the economic slowdown of China, and the global drop in prices of commodities, we must stabilize the economy," he reiterated.

According to Brojonegoro, the president mentioned in his directives that all government programs must be carried out quickly and that the role of the finance ministry would be very important with regard to allocation and distribution of budget.

"The president wishes for all programs directly intended for the people, including the ones for the sectors of agriculture, infrastructure, fisheries and others, to be realized swiftly," he said.

With regard to fuel subsidies, Brojonegoro could not comment as the subject was not discussed at the cabinet meeting.

"We did not discuss about this issue. No one can say whether it (subsidized fuel price hike) will be implemented. Let us just wait and watch," he remarked.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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