REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo stated that adjourning infrastructure development projects, especially in the field of transportation, leads to big losses as costs tend to increase with time.
"We need fresh funding for the development of infrastructure, ports, electricity and railways outside Java because our state budget does not suffice. When we delay (the projects), they require even more funding," Jokowi said on Tuesday.
He added that investors needed to be encouraged to play a bigger role in the development of infrastructure, especially that of the transportation sector.
"We want to improve investments in that field," the president noted.
Investors, members of the Investment Association, visited Jokowi at the presidential palace on Tuesday afternoon. The group has investment potential of up to 8 trillion USD.
"I do not want to make grandiose statements. They (the investors) were happy to meet me and the Coordinating Minister. We know that they have the power and ability (to be better involved in the projects)," the president remarked.