VP Criticizes Regional Governments For Allocating Less Fund For Investment

Jakarta, Nov 19 (Antara) - Vice President Boediono has criticized regional governments for allocating less budget funds for activities that are useful to improve the economy and living standard of the local people. "Some regional governments spend much of their regional budget on salaries rather than on infrastructures, irrigation networks, and factories which are useful in the next years," he said at a meeting on one-stop investment service at the Vice Presidential Palace here on Tuesday. Boediono said regional heads should realize that infrastructure development in their regions would significantly benefit the local economy and improve the living standard of the people. "By investing in various sectors, the local economy will grow and give a source of income to the public," he noted. He said investors would not come to the regions themselves without any attractions, including natural resources and infrastructures. Any region should think of ways to use natural resources in the long run rather than in two years or more, he said. "Singapore which has no natural resources managed to attract investors thanks to the success of their human resources in developing investment attractions," he said. Now was the time for all regions in the country to have priority budget for investment which was useful for the progress of the regions, he said. Also present at the meeting were Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi, Administrative Reforms Minister Azwar Abubakar, National Police chief Gen. Sutarman, Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Mahendra Siregar, and Deputy Trade Minister Bayu Krisnamurthi.