USAID closure opens opportunity for Indonesia to be donor country

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The shutdown of USAID opens up an opportunity for Indonesia to transition from being an aid recipient to becoming a donor nation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' spokesperson, Rolliansyah “Roy” Soemirat.

"This is in line with Indonesia’s aspiration, which is currently in a transitional phase from being a country that has often been in the 'corridor' as a recipient country to becoming a donor country," he remarked at a press briefing here on Thursday (March 6).

Roy emphasized that Indonesia, a G20 member, boasts a rapidly growing economy expected to strengthen further over the coming years.

He added that Indonesia will continue to strive to align this potential with its foreign economic policy stance.

Regarding the impact of USAID closure, Roy spoke of having not yet obtained official and detailed information about the programs that would be changed to adjust to the latest US government policy, making the impact uncertain at present.

Nonetheless, he emphasized that the Indonesian government "always places foreign aid from any country as a complement and not the main source" of the programs being carried out.

"The main source of funding for priority programs in Indonesia comes from the State Budget,” he reaffirmed.

Roy also ensured that he would continue coordinating with related ministries and agencies to ensure government programs continue to run well, "regardless of whether or not there is assistance from other countries that want to contribute and cooperate with Indonesia."

The USAID Headquarters in Washington D.C. was officially closed last month following the announcement by Head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Elon Musk that President Donald Trump had given the green light for the closure of the agency.

The closure has affected USAID-funded projects in several countries, including Indonesia, where USAID allocated around US$153 million in 2023 for supporting projects across various sectors.