Kuwait pledges $50 million soft loan to Indonesia

The government of Kuwait has pledged US$50 million in soft loan to Indonesia, Indonesian news agency "ANTARA" reports quoting the Kuwaiti ambassador here.

"However, we are still waiting for the proposal from the Indonesian government," Kuwaiti Ambassador to Indonesia Jamal Al-Nesafi said explaining the soft loan aims to support the government's development program on the construction of such infrastructure as railroads, ports and airports.

The diplomat said following a meeting with the Indonesian vice-president the loan could increase, depending on negotiations between the two governments. The Kuwaiti government so far has channeled some US$280 million in loans to Indonesia.

The meeting also touched on Indonesia's social problems, such as the 1.2 million internally displaced people. "The Kuwaiti government is helping rebuild the villages of these people. Hopefully the first project would start in January," Jamal said.

Meanwhile, financial aid from some rich Arab countries for the reconstruction of houses of worship in Poso, Central Sulawesi, has been postponed until the security situation in the area is well under control, according to Antara which quotes a local official.

A total of 83 houses of worship (mosques, churches and temples) in Poso are in need of reconstruction funds after they had been destroyed in the sectarian conflict of the past three years, said Dahlan Tangkaderi, head of the Religious Affairs Ministry's Central Sulawasi office.