Purbaya: I Can Control the State Budget, Deficit Won't Exceed 3% of GDP

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has emphasised that the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) remains robust in withstanding the volatility of rising energy prices, which continue to increase alongside the escalation of the Middle East conflict.

He even assured that until the end of the year, the APBN can still absorb the rise in oil and gas prices.

“I won’t change the APBN or the existing subsidies to the point where prices might reach very high levels later. But at the current time, until the end of the year with the current prices, we can still hold the APBN,” he stated during a halal bihalal gathering with reporters at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday (25/3/2026).

Purbaya also assured that the government will continue to pursue efficiency. If there are inefficient departmental budgets, they can be cut. Regarding this efficiency, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi previously revealed that the government has reallocated budgets approaching Rp 800 trillion to mitigate the impact of the Middle East geopolitical conflict.

In addition, President Prabowo Subianto has ordered additional spending efficiency amounting to Rp 81 trillion. According to Purbaya, this efficiency will be implemented gradually.

“Yes, that amount (Rp 81 trillion). It’s stage one, stage two, stage three that we’ll carry out later,” Purbaya stressed.

“The budget is already clear. The budget is already clear. So I can control the APBN, it won’t exceed 3%,” he said.