Skip to main content

Indonesia plans $490 billion infrastructure spend over the next five years

According to the government of Indonesia, US$490.7 billion (IDR 6,000 trillion) will be needed in the next five years for a series of major infrastructure projects across the country including roads, bridges, power plants, ports and airports. The government hopes that investment projects like these will boost its economic growth rate to 7% per annum versus 5% this year. This latest announcement follows on from an Indonesian government report last November, which unveiled plans to invest $35 billion in new
October 8, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
According to the government of Indonesia, US$490.7 billion (IDR 6,000 trillion) will be needed in the next five years for a series of major infrastructure projects across the country including roads, bridges, power plants, ports and airports. The government hopes that investment projects like these will boost its economic growth rate to 7% per annum versus 5% this year.

This latest announcement follows on from an 1065 Indonesian government report last November, which unveiled plans to invest $35 billion in new infrastructure projects in a bid to tackle one of the biggest deterrents to its growth – a weak national highway and transportation infrastructure in what is now one of Asia's biggest economies. “Of the 56 planned projects, 32 are meant to be partnerships between the private and public sector, which Indonesia calls 'PPP' ventures,” said Reuters.

"We want the PPP scheme to dominate the development projects," chief economic minister Hatta Rajasa said, adding that there would have to be incentives to attract private investors.

Indonesia has attracted high volumes of foreign investment in recent years, but the level has started to slow in the face of a weaker global economy and some severe infrastructure bottlenecks. Economists have long argued that the Indonesian government must first address problems such as poor quality roads and overloaded ports if it is to have any hope of competing for investment with other fast-growing Asian nations.

Among the projects (which will start between 2014 and 2017) are several new highways schemes, including toll roads in Sumatra, one of the world's largest islands. There are also plans for eight seaports, two airports, eight railways, five power plants and 11 water supply and waste treatment, of some will be done by PPPs. No new railway line has been built in Indonesia since the end of Dutch colonial rule nearly 70 years ago.

"These infrastructure projects are crucial to sustain Indonesia's long-term growth," said Andy Ferdinand, head of research at Batavia Prosperindo Sekuritas in Jakarta.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • India’s road to safety
    September 5, 2012
    India's growth rate is the envy of the world, and its infrastructure is rapidly improving, but its road safety record is the world's worst. Patrick Smith reports on a conference aimed at finding answers to the problems Ambling through the gardens and marble magnificence that is the Taj Mahal or gazing down on the city of Jaipur from the hilltop Jaigarh Fort is far removed from the world outside.
  • Russia seeks outside investment in road building
    November 6, 2012
    The Russian road building industry is on the verge of big changes as it bids to improve quality and speed of construction says Eugene Gerden The Russian road building industry is on the verge of big changes as the national government considers creating conditions to attract foreign companies to build roads in the country. According to a recent order of President Vladimir Putin, due to poor quality and high cost of road construction, there is a need for the development of a mechanism to attract foreign compa
  • Successful Eurobitume conference in Istanbul
    June 26, 2012
    The Eurasphalt & Eurobitume 2012 event in Turkey has attracted record attendance figures - Mike Woof reports A strong focus on sustainability has been the focus for the 5th Eurasphalt & Eurobitume Congress held in June 2012 at Turkey’s Istanbul Lutfi Kirdar Congress Centre. The conference had as its theme: Asphalt, the sustainable road to success and attracted the highest ever number of attendees for this four yearly event. In one of the opening presentations Turkey’s transport minister, Binali Yildirim, sp
  • Road sector drives European construction’s recovery
    June 27, 2017
    The European road building market is forecast to grow strongly in real terms from now to the end of 2019, as a strengthening economy boosts construction, creating investment and jobs.