Finance Minister Reveals Outcome of Meeting with National Nutrition Agency Head on Budget Efficiency

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has revealed the outcome of his meeting with the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Nanik S Deyang. One of the topics discussed was budget efficiency efforts. The meeting took place at the Ministry of Finance in Central Jakarta on Thursday (25/6). Purbaya stated that the BGN would implement further large-scale budget efficiencies, though he asked all parties to await the details through an official BGN announcement. “Yesterday I met the Head of BGN. She reported that there would be further savings from the BGN programme. I think it is quite significant, but let the Head of BGN announce it later,” Purbaya said during a press conference at his office in Central Jakarta. When asked whether the budget savings would reach Rp 40 trillion, as previously reported, Purbaya declined to disclose the figure. He again requested that the public wait for the official announcement from the BGN. “Maybe (around Rp 40 trillion). Ask her (BGN) directly, she understands better than I do. The cuts will be significant, but it was not my proposal, it was the Head of BGN herself,” Purbaya said. Besides discussing budget efficiency, Purbaya also plans to assign employees from the Directorate General of Treasury in the regions to monitor budget implementation at the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG). This aims to assist the BGN with oversight in the regions. “Later, my people in the regions will monitor these SPPGs periodically. So I have the tools and I can control the budget, and they also agreed. ‘If it is not right, you can just close it, Sir,’ we discussed it like that. So cooperation with the BGN is getting better,” Purbaya added. Purbaya further noted that human resources at the BGN would continue to be improved. He mentioned that the BGN would be staffed with more nutrition and financial experts. “We are also helping with their human resources. If they need financial people, the finance department will assist. It should be better going forward,” he concluded.