Indonesia to continuing connectivity infrastructure development in 2023

Jakarta, June 7 (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Transportation is committed to continue the connectivity infrastructure development program across the country in 2023. "We are pursuing the development of connectivity infrastructure that is productive and supports regional economic growth, with a direct impact on the community," Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi stated at a working meeting with Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Jakarta, Tuesday. The minister noted that the Government Work Plan (RKP) in 2023 is aimed at boosting productivity for inclusive and sustainable economic transformation. In this case, the Ministry of Transportation contributes to several national priority agendas, including accelerating basic infrastructure development, improving the quality of human resources, conducting low-carbon development and energy transition, as well as developing the new capital city (IKN) Nusantara. In 2023, the Ministry of Transportation will also continue to open access to transportation in the regions through the provision of subsidies, Public Service Obligation (PSO) and pioneering transportation, sea toll, and air bridges. "We will complete the Makassar - Pare Pare railway project and construction of the Tanjung Carat Port, as well as complete Phase II of the Patimban Port infrastructure, as well as several airports in Sulawesi and Kalimantan that have become our concern," Sumadi revealed. Furthermore, the minister drew attention to the fact that the government had not fully utilized the state budget in implementing these programs. Due to the fiscal limitations of the state budget, the government has encouraged the implementation of creative funding schemes, both through collaboration with state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and the private sector. Several strategies to be implemented comprise optimizing the application of non-state budget creative funding through the Government and Business Entity Cooperation (KPBU) in order to fulfill the transportation infrastructure requirement and improving Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP) through the Public Service Agency (BLU) as one of the sources of alternative funding for accelerating infrastructure development. "We also encourage the involvement of the private sector in accelerating national economic growth and conducting structural transformation and digitalization in an effort to improve transportation services," the minister concluded.