Wednesday, 3 July 2013

GOVERNMENT READY TO FINANCE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN REGIONS



The need for financing was one of the hindrances faced by the Provincial Governments amidst heightened infra-structure Development. As Government’s institution, the Center of Government’s Investment (PIP) had their commitment to provide alternative Financing in supporting the development acceleration process. PIP had been active in supporting infra-structure development in the regions by financing basic infra-structure projects which could be directly benefited by the people, like roads, bridges, hospitals, electricity etc. “The point is that we are ready to finance infra-structure building in the regions”, Soritaon Siregar, Head of PIP stated in Jakarta on Monday (28/1/2013).

However, Soritaon remarked further, PIP only served as alternative source of financing in the regions. Alternative he said, because PIP did not wish to overtake or intercept. For example, if there was any institution who was ready to build infra-structure in the regions, PIP would not step in. According to their mission, PIP only played the role of alternative financer to speed up development of infra structure in the regions. Although merely an alternative source, he said, PIP was a source which could be benefited by the regions.

Furthermore Soritaon explained that there was limited budget in the regions, so in order to spur on development, extra fund might be needed from other sources so the projects could be realized. Under the circumstances PIP stimulated realization of prioritized projects in the regions through regional investment or regional loan. He explained that regional credit was one of the instruments of investments. Based on the Government’s Regulation no 20 year 2011 on regional loan, PIP was expected to contribute to the process of regional development whereby all provinces, regencies and cities in Indonesia might develop faster because measured and transparent financing could be extended.

Soritaon disclosed that PIP channeled out investment loan in 2012 to the amount of Rp 3.2 trillion. Soriataon said PIP would extend loan to the regional Government at least around Rp 1.765 trillion and to the private sector Rp 1.425 trillion. Credit application in the pipeline sector was among other for building four RSUD regional hospitals, there road building projects, bridges, six terminal markets, and two clean water projects.

PIP according to Soritaon, would synergize with the Indonesia Economic Development Acceleration (MP3EI) in 6 economic corridors in Indonesia focusing on the development of hospitals, markets, infra-structure, bridges and renewed energy production centers. Besides, he said, PIP would also finance green projects like the mini-hydro and geo-thermal project (at the stage of exploration), promissory notes issuance and Government and private projects.

Soritaon claimed to have exercised some strategies to realize the credit investment projects through illumination and education of candidate partners like investment gatherings, publishing manual for regional loans and conducting workshops on regional loans. He further disclosed that in 2012 there were 37 local governments whether provinces, regencies, or towns who applied for regional loans to PIP. “We plan to engage strategic partnership with research with research & development institutes of the communities” he remarked.

However, Soritaon admitted, he still found some weaknesses in some regions. Weaknesses in the regional were visible as they were not ready to execute the proposals, while not being keen eyed enough to see the priority scale of regional development. Therefore according to Soritaon, the Provincial Government together with the local Parliament (DPRD) must stipulate priority scale of projects being proposed, including therein standardization of documents and the method of feasibility formation of the program being proposed. In spite of the handicaps, he said, the regions were revitalizing development through investment by the Central Government managed by PIP.


Business News - February 01,2013  

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