Yudhoyono calls for eficient use of regional budgets

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on all provincial governors to use their respective regional budgets efficiently and optimally in the face of world economic turmoil.

Speaking before governors from across the country at the opening of a national working meeting of the Indonesian Provincial Administrations` Association (APPSI) at the State Palace here on Friday, the president called on the governors to use the budgets of their respective regions efficiently and optimally.

On the occasion, the president asked them to postpone unimportant programs and instead do more to improve the economy of poor people who live under the pressure of rising food prices.

"It does not mean that we have to reduce the amounts of regional budgets and postpone development projects, but we have to postpone what can be done later in order to help the poor people," Yudhoyono said.

The head of state also expressed hope that governors who want to adopt policies to optimize the use of their regional budgets should put the poor people`s interest at the top of their priorities.

In his opening address, Yudhoyono explained that the international economic situation such as the rise in world oil prices and recession in the United States were having a negative impact on the Indonesian economy.