Sri Mulyani: Focus On State Spending To Strengthen Economic Competitiveness

Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani said that the focus of state spending is to strengthen competitiveness and economic resilience. 

"State spending is focused on strengthening competitiveness and economic resilience as an important foundation for maintaining stability," she said at the 21st Plenary Session of the DPR for Session Period IV of the 2024-2025 Session Year in Jakarta, Tuesday. 

Several strategic priority sectors that are the direction of government spending include food and energy security, strengthening education and health, strengthening Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), Free Health Checks (CKG), People's Schools, strengthening the Red and White Village Cooperative, and strengthening technological research that can create a high multiplier effect on the economy. 

The government is committed to making efforts to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of central and regional spending through synergy in harmonizing central and regional spending, distributing performance-based transfers, monitoring and evaluation, and strengthening supervision by government agency supervisory officers. 

Through these efforts, she continued, it is hoped that state and regional spending can provide optimal contributions to improving the quality of public services. 

"The government is also strengthening K/L (Ministry/Institution) spending to support the achievement of national development priorities in the regions through program synergy at beneficiary locations, especially in the regions," he said. 

He ensured that the reform of subsidy and social protection policies would continue to be carried out. Gradually, the government is encouraging more targeted and equitable social assistance and subsidies based on direct beneficiaries through the improvement of the National Socio-Economic Single Data. 

Empowerment-based social protection programs (perlinsos) are also always encouraged, such as vocational training, business access facilities, and financing for low-income communities and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). 

"The synergy of perlinsos programs from various ministries and institutions continues to be strengthened. Through these steps, it is hoped that state spending will become a strong instrument in encouraging inclusive, sustainable economic growth and reducing disparities between regions and between community groups," said Sri Mulyani. 

On that occasion, he appreciated the views of the factions of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Functional Group Party (Golkar), the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Democratic Party (Nasdem), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the National Mandate Party (PAN), and the Democratic Party regarding support for maintaining the effectiveness and efficiency of state spending, especially in supporting priority programs. 

"The government strongly agrees and expresses appreciation for the Council's views on the quality of spending," said the Minister of Finance. 

Tag: MBG Menkeu Sri Mulyani