Indonesia Expects Tax Revenue to Rise by 13 Percent This Year

Indonesia targets tax revenue of 1,489.3 trillion rupiah this year, according to the 2015 revised state budget, up 30 pct from last year.

Jakarta, 09 Jumadal Awwal 1437/18 February 2016 (MINA) – The Indonesian government targets tax revenue to rise by 13 percent this year to help finance the country’s infrastructure projects.

Indonesian Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said on Wednesday in Jakarta the government aims to collect 1,198.9 trillion rupiah (some 887.81 billion U.S. dollars) by end of this year, a rise from last year’s 1,060.9 trillion rupiah.

Minister Brodjonegoro said that the target was decided after reaching agreement with the Indonesian parliament, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) quoted Xinhua as reporting.

The minister said that the government and the parliament agreed that the tax collection should not disturb investment climate in the country.

President Joko Widodo’s administration requires huge funds to finance construction of roads, railways, sea ports, airports and other infrastructure facilities to prop up economic growth and create more jobs.

The country’s economy picked up to 5.04 percent at the final quarter from 4.74 percent at three months ended September as spending of government development budget rose significantly amid weak export and consumption, the National Statistic Bureau has said.

President Widodo, who came into office in October 2014, aims a GDP growth of over 7 percent at the end of his five yeartenure. (R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)