REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo has vowed to involve local businessmen in the development of basic and supporting infrastructure across the country, including in border areas.

"I have told the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises and local governments several times about the importance of involving local businessmen to ensure the circulation of money in the region," he said in a special interview with Antara at the State Palace here on Monday (20/4).

He added that infrastructure development, especially in the border areas in Kalimantan and Papua, would be carried out this year.

In view of these projects, the involvement of local businessmen in these areas must be promoted to ensure equal distribution of development.

"This has been started in Kalimantan and Papua," he affirmed.

Jokowi further noted that there are projects such as the development of ports, toll roads, airports and other supporting infrastructure that have yet to be implemented.

This was a result of technical problems related to the disbursement of funds as the revised budget was only approved in the middle of January 2015, due to which funds can only be disbursed in the middle of April to May 2015.

"It will be carried out early in May because the revised budget was approved only in the middle of January," he pointed out.

Large-scale infrastructure projects will be started early in May in various regions in the country, the president said.

"We will begin work on large-scale projects, many of which will be in May," he stated.

Moreover, President Joko Widodo admitted that many people had called for the realization of the promises he had made during his presidential campaign, including those of the Indonesia Health Cards, Indonesia Smart Cards, and Family Welfare Cards.

Giving his assurance, the president promised that the programs would be implemented this month and early next month.

"We will soon begin the distribution of the Indonesia Health Cards and Indonesia Smart Cards. These take time, and procedures need to be followed because they are related to public money in the revised budget, the use of which must be accountable," he explained.

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