Officials' Overseas Travel Budget Eliminated, Purbaya: Unless Absolutely Necessary

Jakarta, VIVA – Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has confirmed that budgets for officials’ overseas business trips will be reduced or even eliminated, with exceptions only for agendas deemed extremely important.

He explained that this follows President Prabowo’s instructions as part of the government’s efforts to intensify budget efficiency in light of global geopolitical turmoil and surging world oil prices.

“Meetings are being reduced further. As per the president’s directive, overseas travel is being cut,” Purbaya said while speaking to the media in the Ministry of Finance area, Jakarta, on Tuesday, 7 April 2026.

“But the further guidance is that overseas travel for officials is eliminated, unless it’s absolutely desperate,” he added.

However, Purbaya admitted that he will attend the IMF-World Bank Meeting in the near future. Therefore, he assured that he has already obtained permission from President Prabowo to go.

“I’m going to the IMF-World Bank Meeting because I think it’s important, so I’ll go. I’ve already asked for permission,” he said.

It is known that previously, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto had conveyed the government’s decision to cut domestic business travel activities by 50 percent and overseas by 70 percent.

“Efficiency of domestic business travel (cut) up to 50 percent, and overseas up to 70 percent,” he stated.