Budget Deficit Reaches Rp 135.7 Trillion, Purbaya Assures 2026 Budget Revision Unnecessary

Jakarta — Indonesia’s Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has confirmed that the government will not revise the 2026 state budget (APBN) despite continuing uncertainty clouding the global economy. The Ministry of Finance believes that the country’s current fiscal position remains sufficiently robust to withstand various economic pressures.

To date, Purbaya said, the government has identified no urgent need to alter the budget structure. State revenues are judged to be performing adequately to support government spending. “Previously, many media outlets asked whether the government would soon change its budget. The answer is no. In terms of state revenue, conditions remain sufficiently favourable,” Purbaya said during a press conference on the March 2026 edition of APBN KiTa in Jakarta on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.

He explained that the 2026 budget was deliberately designed with a deficit in order to give the government greater room to stimulate economic activity. This year, Purbaya continued, the government has deliberately accelerated spending from the start of the year so that its impact on the public and business sectors is more tangible.

“The budget has indeed been designed to run a deficit. Now we are promoting spending that is more evenly distributed throughout the year so that the impact of government spending on the economy is more strongly felt,” he said.

According to Purbaya, the government remains prepared to take anticipatory measures should global economic pressures intensify. Should such circumstances arise, adjustments to fiscal policy, including the budget, could indeed be implemented.

“If conditions become more difficult in the future, we will certainly adjust the budget. But at this moment, we are starting from a position of strong fiscal health,” he stated.

He also urged the public not to be overly concerned about the government’s fiscal condition. Budget management, he said, will continue to be directed at maintaining economic stability while protecting the purchasing power of the population.

However, the government is also continuing to monitor the energy sector, particularly oil and gas production. Optimising hydrocarbon lifting is expected to support state revenues whilst strengthening fiscal resilience in the coming years.

Purbaya hopes the budget will be able to perform two functions simultaneously: maintaining economic stability and driving growth amid global uncertainty.