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2020 budget reflects Jokowi's campaign promises
Speaking in a Cabinet meeting on Monday, Jokowi said the government would prioritize its spending next year on improving Indonesia’s human resources.
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High hopes: Incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo addresses his supporters during an open campaign event at Kalegowa Field in Gowa, South Sulawesi, in this file picture. (Antara/Puspa Perwitasari)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is set to swiftly implement his campaign promises as reflected in the 2020 draft state budget, which includes state funds for education, staple foods and skills training.
Speaking in a Cabinet meeting on Monday, Jokowi said the government would prioritize its spending next year on improving Indonesia’s human resources.
“The draft of the 2020 state budget will prioritize human resources, focusing on education, health care and skills training to suit the needs of the market and industries,” Jokowi said.
During his reelection campaign, Jokowi promised to issue three cards, including the Indonesia Smart Card (KIP) for tertiary education and an affordable staple foods card, which would be accommodated in the 2020 state budget, said Finance Minister Sri Mulyani.
KIP for university students, which is a revamp of the existing state-sponsored scholarship program Bidikmisi, is said to take up Rp 12.4 trillion (US$ 890.48 million) of the 2020 budget as the government will increase the number of recipients from 360,000 students in 2019 to 780,000 students next year.
Meanwhile, the government will set aside Rp 25.7 trillion for the affordable staple foods card, which would take over the current rice assistance (Rastra) social aid scheme and be disbursed to 15.6 million families, said Sri Mulyani.
The third card is a pre-employment card, which is part of a program designed to fund job seekers access training. The program’s budget of Rp 10.3 trillion will be used to issue 1 million pre-employment cards for regular skills training and another 1 million cards for digital training, she added.
