TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Muliaman Hadad, the Financial Services Authority's (OJK) board of commissioners' chairman, said Indonesia must stay alert in facing this year's economic conditions, keeping a close look on global and domestic dynamics.

Mr. Hadad said the government is optimistic that the national economy is improving, along with the financial industry's increasing capacity of risk absorption.

He requested the financial services industry not to focus on the rupiah depreciation alone, but also pay attention to efforts in increasing financing in a bid to promote higher economic growth.

The OJK had sign an agreement to cooperate with the National Professional Certification Board (BNSP) to improve the quality standards of human resources in the financial services. The scope of this cooperation includes the establishment of a professional certification institution.

"Job competence certification is one of the important pillars in improving the quality of human resources in the financial service industry, especially ahead of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)," he said as quoted by Antara.

Hadad said the agreement is intended to boost the competitiveness of domestic professionals when the AEC for the banking sector starts in 2020.

Mr. Hadad said the banking sector would need about 4,920 certified professionals in the next five years, mostly executive officer. The non-bank sector is estimated to need 1,930 certified workers, mostly life insurance experts, actuaries, and administrators. While the capital market needs about 25,080 securities firms' representatives.

ODELIA SINAGA