Asian-African Summit to cost Rp 206 billion
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
The government said on Friday it has disbursed some Rp 206 billion (US$22 million) to make the three-day jubilee celebration of the Asian-African Summit in Bandung, West Java, late this month, a success.
State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the huge fund would be spent on building infrastructure, including a toll road linking Jakarta and Bandung; to expand Bandung's Hussein Sastranegara Airport and renovate the Independence Building, where the conference is to be held.
The money will also be used to provide accommodation for summit participants from over 60 countries and buy 60 luxury Toyota Camry sedans for them.
"It includes infrastructure and other things that we can use again in the future," Yusril said after a Cabinet meeting led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to discuss preparations for the summit.
"Such a vast sum will hopefully be recovered, not directly but through the improved image of the nation, which would boost foreign investment," Yusril quoted Susilo as saying.
Earlier in the day, Yusril said the purchase of the 60 sedans cost around Rp 21 billion of the 206 billion.
After being used by the summit delegates, he added, the luxury sedans would become the official cars of high-ranking government officials.
The minister said Susilo chose the Camry as it was cheaper than other options considered by the government, such as Toyota Lexus, Toyota Super Saloon, BMW 5 series and Volvo S 80, which all cost between Rp 250 million and Rp 1.2 billion.
"The President told me to buy Japan-made sedans rather than European cars," Yusril said.
He said the government bought the 60 Camry sedans for around Rp 350 million each from a car showroom in Jakarta, adding that it was a discounted price. The market price for a Camry is between Rp 339 million and Rp 440 million.
"The purchase was approved (by the House of Representatives) in last year's state budget," he said.
Some of the cars are already at the State Secretary's office but others are still being imported from Thailand.
"They (the car show room) don't have a sufficient supply (of Toyota Camry sedans) since we ordered black cars only," Yusril said.
He said that as many as 18 of the Toyota Camry sedans would be used by the chairpersons (or their deputies) of state institutions, including the People's Consultative Assembly, the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court and the Supreme Audit Agency, after the summit wrapped up on April 24.
Another 35 cars would be allocated for statesmen including President Susilo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Cabinet members, Yusril said.