Jokowi Hopes for 5.02 Percent Growth by the end of 2015.

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo hoped that economic growth rate in 2015 could exceed 5.02 percent, a figure recorded previously in 2014. Similarly, Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro had forecasted an economic growth rate of just a little over five percent. "Five percent or just a little more than five percent," Bambang said at the Presidential Office on Thursday, August 6, 2015.

To achieve that goal, Bambang hoped that capital expenditures in the second half of 2015 could reach 70 percent. President Jokowi had also instructed Bambang to ensure that such condition could be met.

Bambang explained that he will prioritize three infrastructure-related ministries to allow better capital expenditures, including the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, Transportation Ministry, and the Agriculture Ministry.

Bambang said that he will not apply any special measures to increase budget absorption because the Finance Ministry had removed all restrictions for ministries who wish to disburse their budget. "Any request will be fulfilled immediately. It’s just that the related ministry or agency must carry out the project immediately. Contract signing and initial phase of fund disbursement can be carried out, but what important is the project can make progress, not only to disburse the budget," Bambang said.

ALI HIDAYAT