Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has asked Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati to strengthen the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) without delay to accelerate development in Papua province.

Amin had summoned Indrawati to his official residence in Jakarta to discuss the budget, the Vice President's spokesman, Masduki Baidlowi, said here on Thursday.

"Papua development funds are in various ministries or non-ministerial government agencies. That's what we have to consolidate. In the context of the consolidation, the vice president summoned the finance minister," he added.

He said Amin is seeking an immediate start to the development process in Papua and has therefore urged President Joko Widodo to hold a limited meeting to discuss the matter.

"Soon, at the end of June or early July, the vice president has proposed a limited meeting to the president to consolidate and accelerate development in Papua using the funds in the state budget," said Baidlowi.

Amin had earlier summoned the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Polhukam), Mahfud MD, to discuss security conditions in Papua.

During the meeting, he had stressed the need to improve the security situation in Papua so that accelerated development in the region can boost the welfare of the local community.

The vice president also told the minister that the program to improve the welfare of the people in Papua needs to be accelerated without delay. (INE)
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