Indonesia's 2019 budget deficit may widen to 1.93pc of GDP

JAKARTA: Indonesia's finance minister on Tuesday said the fiscal deficit in 2019 may be wider than initially anticipated, at 1.93% of GDP, due to an expected 134.3 trillion rupiah ($9.64 billion) shortfall in revenue collection.

However, Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the government will likely spend less than budgeted, projecting a total state expenditure of 2,341.6 trillion rupiah, or 119.5 trillion rupiah less than planned.

At a parliamentary hearing, Indrawati forecast 2019 total state revenue at 2,030.8 trillion rupiah.

The government's initial fiscal deficit outlook was 1.84% of GDP.