Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has emphasized the importance of infrastructure development that has a direct impact on economic growth and public welfare, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) said on Tuesday.
"At the meeting earlier, the President emphasized the importance of infrastructure development with direct impact on national economic growth, as well as the local economy and improving the welfare of the people," AHY said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta.
Efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency, energy self-sufficiency, and downstreaming require building stronger human resources through the development of education, health, and connectivity, for which adequate infrastructure development is needed, he informed.
The minister emphasized the need to prioritize major programs without ignoring the importance of planning and developing infrastructure amid budget efficiency efforts.
He assured that his ministry will continue to seek solutions, including budget sources outside the state budget, which refer to credible and sustainable investment, both foreign and domestic.
Collaboration with the private sector is also important to continue infrastructure projects, he noted.
"The private sector is an important partner to work with the government in continuing infrastructure projects properly," he added.
In addition, the president is focusing on infrastructure development in four new provinces in Papua, namely Central Papua, Papua Highland, South Papua, and Southwest Papua.
This includes the provision of basic infrastructure, such as land, housing, and transportation networks. In addition, the transmigration program is also expected to open up new economic potential in these areas.
On Tuesday, Prabowo summoned AHY and several other ministers to discuss issues regarding infrastructure.
The ministers included Minister of Transmigration Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara; Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/head of the National Land Agency (BPN) Nusron Wahid; Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi; Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo; and Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas Maruarar Sirait.
Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati; Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian; Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir; Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya also joined the meeting.
