West Sulawesi strategic projects to be adjusted amid austerity

The West Sulawesi Provincial Government has determined several strategic projects for fiscal year (FY) 2025 as part of efforts to accelerate regional development.

"This decision was taken to strengthen the infrastructure, agriculture, maritime, and education sectors in order to improve the people's welfare," stated West Sulawesi Provincial Secretariat Acting Goods and Services Procurement Bureau Head M. Yamin Saleh in Mamuju Regency on Mar. 29, 2025.

The strategic projects are:

1. Horticultural development to be carried out by the West Sulawesi Food Crops, Horticulture, and Livestock Office;
2. Periodic maintenance and reconstruction of the Tabone-Nosu Regional Road Section by the West Sulawesi Public Works and Spatial Planning Office;
3. Periodic maintenance and reconstruction of the Urekang-Mambi Regional Road Section by the West Sulawesi Public Works and Spatial Planning Office;
4. Periodic maintenance and reconstruction of the Pasangkayu Port access road (Kayumaloa-Port-Ako gas station) by the West Sulawesi Public Works and Spatial Planning Office;
5. Periodic maintenance and reconstruction of the West Tapalang-Tapalang Regional Road Section across Tampalang Village, Tapalang District, Mamuju Regency by the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office;
6. Matching funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction grants to be managed by the West Sulawesi Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD);
7. Coastal and small island community institutions strengthening and development by the West Sulawesi Marine and Fisheries Office;
8. Business assistance for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to be implemented by the West Sulawesi Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Industry, and Trade Office;
9. School furniture procurement by the West Sulawesi Education and Culture Office.

The selection of these projects, said Yamin, was based on the scale of development priorities that could provide real effects in improving community welfare, accelerating economic growth and strengthening regional infrastructure.

"Every strategic project must be carried out with the principles of transparency, accountability, and effectiveness. In addition, efficiency in the procurement process will continue to be improved so that projects could be run on time and in line with the region's needs," he explained.

However, Yamin also revealed that the list of strategic projects is up for revision due to the West Sulawesi Provincial Government's budget austerity policy, which is part of the Indonesian government overall budget austerity, causing the elimination of several programs and activities.

"Including strategic projects, several have experienced being taken out of the budget. That's why we will coordinate again with [West Sulawesi] Bapperida (Regional Development Planning, Research, and Innovation Agency) for [project] re-identification," explained Yamin.

The West Sulawesi Provincial Government, he said, is committed to ensuring that projects that make the cut will be enacted optimally.

"Cross-sector coordination will continue to be strengthened in order to adjust development priorities to local community needs and available budget conditions," said Yamin.