Purbaya: Officials' Overseas Trips Abolished, Except in Emergencies

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has revealed a list of budget items affected by efficiency measures in response to the ripple effects of global economic turmoil. One of them is the travel allowance budget for officials.

As is known, the total efficiency budget using the refocusing scheme amounts to Rp130.2 trillion. The aim is to keep the 2026 state budget deficit within the safe limit of the State Finance Law, below 3% of GDP, amid high spending needs for energy subsidies due to the rise in world crude oil prices.

“If the President’s order is to reduce domestic travel. The further step is to eliminate overseas travel for officials, except in extreme emergencies,” Purbaya said at his office in Jakarta on Tuesday (7/4/2026).

Nevertheless, Purbaya acknowledged that in the near future he must attend an important overseas agenda, namely the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. However, he stressed that he has received approval from the head of state to attend the event.

“I want to go to the IMF-World Bank Meeting, I think it’s important, so I’ll go. I’ve already asked for permission,” said the former Chairman of the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS) board.

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that the budget refocusing policy is directed towards increasing the effectiveness of state spending to make it more productive and directly impact society.

“The budget reallocation is carried out from less priority spending such as official travel, meetings, non-operational expenses, and ceremonial activities. This is towards more productive spending that directly impacts society, including rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Sumatra disaster,” Airlangga said in his statement in Seoul, Republic of Korea, on Tuesday, 31 March 2026.

Furthermore, Airlangga explained that the government is also continuing to push for the acceleration of budget realisation by ministries and agencies, accompanied by sharpening through the optimisation of budget use. “The potential for prioritisation and refocusing of budgets by ministries and agencies is in the range of Rp121.2 trillion to Rp130.2 trillion,” Airlangga stated.