VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati highlighted the importance of continuing to implement various infrastructure development programs, including those related to education and health, despite the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

"Amid the COVID-19 pandemic situation, we do not forget development activities. We still hope that despite the COVID-19, we continue to implement development programs,” the minister noted at the 2021 Infrastructure Project Financing Policy Forum through SBSN (State Sharia Bond) here on Wednesday.

Indrawati stressed on the criticality of infrastructure development in the health sector in the wake of the pandemic, especially to address the health crises.

"In the health sector, we must not only handle COVID-19 but there are also many other steps to take, including upgrading hospitals," she emphasized.

To this end, the minister affirmed that in order to support development, the government should continue to create and develop creative financing instruments.

Indrawati cited the example of SBSN, being implemented since 2013, as one of the creative financing instruments.

The number of ministries and institutions (K/L) that began using SBSN, has risen, from one K/L in 2013 to eight K/L in 2020 and 11 K/L in 2021.

"The cumulative value of financing reaches Rp145.84 trillion," she stated.

In addition to financing infrastructure projects, SBSN can be channeled to boost economic development and sharia instruments in Indonesia.

"Regarding SBSN linked to projects, it is very crucial to establish close collaboration among ministries and institutions," she noted.

The minister emphasized that the performance and quality of projects financed by SBSN must be of high quality on account of the fact that those projects are financed by loans, while the government must also continue to protect Indonesia's debts. (antaranews)