By: Alif Fikri)*
The community appreciates the infrastructure development that is currently being intensified by the Government. Besides being able to spur connectivity between regions, infrastructure development has proven to be able to boost the economy.
Infrastructure development continues to be intensified in order to increase national economic growth. This is certainly obligatory for us to give the highest appreciation because as stated in the National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN) document that Indonesia’s target is to be included in the Upper-Middle Income category in 2025. Therefore, increasing economic competitiveness is continuously optimized by the Government.
One thing that can be said to be very effective is to carry out structural reforms that directly include improvements in the national investment climate and also accelerate infrastructure development, especially the development of National Strategic Projects. Of course, with the structural reforms carried out, it is highly hoped that Indonesia will be able to further improve its capabilities in the field of research and innovation-based economic development, besides that in the future there will also be a straight correlation there will be an increase in the quality of Human Resources (HR).
We can no longer wait too long or if we are careless and do not immediately accelerate the development, then our momentum to immediately turn things around by moving the wheels of the economy will be much more difficult. The reason is that this year is the most appropriate momentum to be able to pursue various achievements and targets for the medium to long term because now is the year in which the economic recovery will begin to improve after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Not only that, but this year is also a very good time because it is a momentum where the increase in the competitiveness of the community’s economy will be projected to improve again after experiencing a correction during the pandemic. Of course, the important thing here is not just the acceleration of infrastructure development, but there are several other things.
Several things that should be the key to the success of improving the economy are the improvement in the quality of development planning, implementation of development to the stage of operation and maintenance of infrastructure. So that we can create ‘value for money’ from all the processes that have been attempted earlier. So far, it can be said that the Ministry of PUPR has been one of the best in all of these efforts.
Even the Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto immediately gave his great appreciation to the Minister of PUPR because of his commitment and hard work so far to accelerate development and provide infrastructure which is very important to encourage the growth of the national economy. It is undeniable that the role of infrastructure development is very important.
It is known that the role of infrastructure development helps a lot to achieve the national economic growth target in 2022, which is 5.2 percent. Not only as a driving force for the economy, but with good infrastructure development, Indonesia is able to continue to leverage the world perception index (business) in terms of determining the location to make the most appropriate investment so that many investors from various countries will no longer hesitate to invest their capital. .
All of these targets will be able to be achieved if at least by the end of 2024 Indonesia is able to continue to accelerate the acceleration of infrastructure development up to 49.4 percent. Another thing that can clearly be felt by the community is that with the acceleration of infrastructure development in the era of President Joko Widodo’s leadership, connectivity between regions can be easily affordable.
The affordability of inter-regional connections which has been one of the problems in the community can finally be resolved so that it will certainly help the community in carrying out their daily mobility. President Jokowi’s consistency in completing every development program to all corners of the country deserves our appreciation.
)* The author is a contributor to the Press Circle and Cikini Students
