Indonesia increases state budget of 24.5 trln rupiah

Indonesian has increased state budget by 24.5 trillion rupiah (about 2.45 billion U.S. dollars) so that all ministries could propose additional budget for 2010 before March, Kompas daily quoted a minister as saying on Saturday.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that the additional fund is aimed to accommodate insufficiency in various important programs, particularly in infrastructure one.

"Infrastructure program in 2010 need huge money," said Sri Mulyani.

There will be an additional deficit nominal to 122.5 trillion rupiah (about 12.25 billion U.S. dollars) from 98 trillion rupiah (about 9.8 billion dollars), or increases 24.5 trillion rupiah.

The state budget change could be done in March 2010 at the latest. Therefore, before the month, all ministries and non-departmental institutions could propose additional fund.

However, the additional fund is only for prioritized programs or projects.

In the opening speech of the National Summit 2009, President Susulo Bambang Yudhoyono signaled that infrastructure development is very important to support the government commitment to fortify domestic economy.

Source: Xinhua