Village Fund Pushes Regional Economic Growth: Minister

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Minister of Rural Development and Transmigration Marwan Jafar said the village fund can push economic growth in the regional and national levels.

"The first phase distribution of village fund has reached 100 percent or already channeled entirely to the recipient districts," Jafar stated here on Sunday.

Therefore, he asked the government to immediately distribute the fund to the villages in order to immediately implement the rural development program.

"The village funds should be channeled soon, so that the villages can immediately implement rural development, particularly to build the rural infrastructure and also to generate the rural economy.  The rural economy movement will also contribute to the regional economy which will further expedite the growth of national economy," the minister explained.

He also stressed the importance of all parties' role in an effort to improve and accelerate the growth of national economy which is still experiencing a slowdown.

Previously, report issued by the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), said the national economic growth in the second quarter of this year (April-June) again slowed 4.67 percent even declined slightly compared to the first quarter which reached 4.7 percent.

According to him, hard work is needed to promote the village economy. If the village economy goes forward it will provide a wide range of business opportunities and jobs for villagers. (WDY)