Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The government is encouraging the use of village funds to finance labor-intensive infrastructure development, hoping it will have a positive impact on the rural economy.
"The village funds we are directing to become cash for work must be used to develop infrastructure projects at the rural level, be they roads, bridges and irrigation networks," Finance Minister, Bambang Brodjonegoro said after accompanying President Joko Widodo to the announcement of a new economic policy package at the Merdeka Palace on Wednesday evening.
"More importantly, the projects must be labor intensive and self-financing without using large quantities of materials and employing workers from other villages. So we hope this policy will have a direct impact on the rural economy and villagers' welfare," he said.
The government announced the first phase of its new economic policy package on Wednesday as part of efforts to boost the national economy and to address the current economic challenges.
"The government, along with the monetary authority, has taken steps to ensure fiscal and monetary stability, including keeping the inflation rate in check," President Joko Widodo said while announcing the economic policy package.
The head of state said the other steps the government would take as part of the policy package are encouraging the engine of economic growth by expediting government spending, increasing budget absorption and strengthening the balance of payments.
"These steps are still inadequate. The other effort the government has made is to launch the first phase of the economic policy package of September 2015, which comprises of three steps, he said.
The first step is to encourage a competitive edge in the national industry, deregulation and de-bureaucratization, law enforcement and business certainty.
The second step would be expediting national strategic projects by, among others, streamlining licensing procedures and providing land.
The third step would involve ramping up investment in the property sector and encouraging policies for low-income individuals.
"These all are aimed at encouraging the real-estate sector. I believe the economic policy package will strengthen the national industry, boost the development of micro and small businesses, encourage the tourism sector and improve fishermen's living standards," he added. (WDY)
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2015
"The village funds we are directing to become cash for work must be used to develop infrastructure projects at the rural level, be they roads, bridges and irrigation networks," Finance Minister, Bambang Brodjonegoro said after accompanying President Joko Widodo to the announcement of a new economic policy package at the Merdeka Palace on Wednesday evening.
"More importantly, the projects must be labor intensive and self-financing without using large quantities of materials and employing workers from other villages. So we hope this policy will have a direct impact on the rural economy and villagers' welfare," he said.
The government announced the first phase of its new economic policy package on Wednesday as part of efforts to boost the national economy and to address the current economic challenges.
"The government, along with the monetary authority, has taken steps to ensure fiscal and monetary stability, including keeping the inflation rate in check," President Joko Widodo said while announcing the economic policy package.
The head of state said the other steps the government would take as part of the policy package are encouraging the engine of economic growth by expediting government spending, increasing budget absorption and strengthening the balance of payments.
"These steps are still inadequate. The other effort the government has made is to launch the first phase of the economic policy package of September 2015, which comprises of three steps, he said.
The first step is to encourage a competitive edge in the national industry, deregulation and de-bureaucratization, law enforcement and business certainty.
The second step would be expediting national strategic projects by, among others, streamlining licensing procedures and providing land.
The third step would involve ramping up investment in the property sector and encouraging policies for low-income individuals.
"These all are aimed at encouraging the real-estate sector. I believe the economic policy package will strengthen the national industry, boost the development of micro and small businesses, encourage the tourism sector and improve fishermen's living standards," he added. (WDY)
Editor : I Gusti Bagus Widyantara
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2015