Govt spends $120m Aceh grant from Japan<\/p>\n
Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government has spent up to US$120 million in grants that the
\nJapanese government had already disbursed to Indonesia as part of
\nits aid for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Aceh.<\/p>\n
"We have spent some $120 million so far, from the total of
\n$146 million in grants that Japan has disbursed to us," the
\nMinistry of Finance's director general for state treasury Mulia
\nNasution said on Friday.<\/p>\n
"We expect the remaining funds to be spent shortly as well,
\nand if possible, for Japan to add to its aid funds of some $200
\nmillion for Aceh that it had pledged through the Consultative
\nGroup on Indonesia (CGI)."<\/p>\n
Mulia said the funds were mostly used for the purchase of
\nurgently needed health care supplies and construction materials
\nfor repairing damaged roads.<\/p>\n
"Besides that, we plan to use the funds for the rehabilitation
\nof damaged school buildings and community health centers
\n(Puskesmas) in the province," he said.<\/p>\n
Mulia further explained that the grants had been implemented
\nas joint projects under the Japan-Indonesia Cooperation System
\n(JICS) scheme.<\/p>\n
"The procurement of goods and supplies using the funds was
\nconducted by JICS officials, but Indonesia was given the freedom
\nto propose what it needed," he said.<\/p>\n
During the CGI annual meeting earlier this year, the Japanese
\ngovernment had pledged a total of $177 million in grants for
\nAceh, as part of the group's overall pledge of $1.2 billion in
\ngrants and $500 million in interest-free loans.<\/p>\n
As a member of the Paris Club group of major creditor
\ncountries, Japan had also agreed to participate in the immediate
\nwaiving of $2.4 billion in debt payments for Indonesia, so the
\ngovernment could reallocate the funds for coping with the Aceh
\ntsunami disaster.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, concerning the aid funds from other parties, Mulia
\nexplained that the Asian Development Bank had also begun
\ndisbursing and implementing its $300 million in aid grants for
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
"The ADB had helped us and the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) open
\nour representative offices in Aceh," he said.<\/p>\n
The World Bank, meanwhile, has also finalized its preparations
\nto implement a multi donor trust fund for Aceh that will pool and
\nmanage some $500 million from international donors.<\/p>\n
Public concern has recently risen over possible embezzlement
\nof aid funds for Aceh. The government, however, has repeatedly
\nassured donors concerning the accountability of the funds, under
\nstrict audit supervision of the BPK.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-spends-120m-aceh-grant-from-japan-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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