ER
PRESIDENT Prabowo Subianto has invited the private sector to contribute more to the development of infrastructure projects in Indonesia, while responding to allegations that his administration is halting major infrastructure projects.
“I want to give a bigger role to the private sector. Some say that I stopped the infrastructure projects, but that is not true. I did not stop them,” he said at the National Conference of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) here on Thursday, (01/16), 2025 evening.
The President emphasized that he will give a larger role to private companies in building infrastructure projects, rather than assigning them to ministries or state-owned enterprises.
Meanwhile, Prabowo said the government will focus more on core projects that concern the protection of the people.
“I have said many times that the government will focus on important and core issues, those that concern the protection of the people. But what the private sector can do, the private sector must develop; the private sector must do everything (to support the government),” he added.
He further explained that the development of major infrastructure projects, such as toll roads, ports, and airports, will be handed over to private companies.
According to Prabowo, private companies are more efficient, innovative, and experienced in building infrastructure, so they are expected to have a positive impact on economic growth in the regions.
In November 2024, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati temporarily froze all infrastructure budgets for government construction projects at the direction of President Prabowo.
The freeze impacted major projects, such as dams and bridges. Uncertainty also hung over the future of the Nusantara capital city, despite the Rp15-trillion (US$947.7 million) budget allocation for 2025.
The infrastructure budget will be redirected to programs supporting food, energy, and water security, which are Prabowo’s priority initiatives.
They include a planned IDR71 trillion (around US$4.35 billion) program to provide free nutritious meals to at least 15 million beneficiaries nationwide this year as well as efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency within the next five years. [antaranews]
