The programs for reducing stunting and extreme poverty became the short-term focus of the Joko Widodo-Ma’ruf Amin administration last year, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati said.
“The year 2024 is the last year for President Jokowi (Widodo) and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin’s administration,” she noted while delivering a press statement at the Presidential Palace Complex here on Monday.
“To this end, various priority programs will be conducted with a focus, such as reducing extreme poverty until it reaches zero percent,” she informed.
The President has committed to achieving the target of reducing extreme poverty to zero percent by 2024, the minister said.
In 2022, extreme poverty in Indonesia was pegged at 2 percent, with the rate in 14 provinces recorded above the national rate.
Thus, the government will prioritize funding allocation for extreme poverty reduction this year and the next.
Besides tackling extreme poverty, the government is striving to reduce headline poverty to 6.5–7.5 percent. It will also increase the budget allocation for stunting reduction to ensure that the childhood stunting rate reaches 3.8 percent by 2024.
According to the minister, the two priority programs will certainly affect the budget for this year and the next.
Therefore, the government is seeking to significantly increase investment through changes in certain regulations.
The regulations cover the Job Creation Law, Financial Sector Development and Strengthening Law, Taxation Regulation Harmonization Law, as well as Central and Regional Financial Relation Law.
The government will also utilize fiscal incentives in the form of tax holidays and a super deduction tax for research and development as well as vocation.
The tax allowance facility will also be provided to support the transformation of industries, especially those based on natural resources, with the goal of strengthening the electric and battery-based automotive industry.
Source: Antara News