TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo said that the target to have financial penetration level at 75% by 2019 is realistic, provided the target is supported by sufficient efforts of promotion and dissemination.
Speaking at the Forum Saresehan 100 Ekonom on November 12, the president said that it is not an easy target. "I've told the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs for our bank savings to reach at least 75% in 2019, up from this year's 40 percent," he said as reported by Bisnis Indonesia.
The president said financial inclusion will strengthen the national economy and encourage investments through small and middle-scale development projects.
"It is not impossible to encourage people to save their money in banks—whether they are students, farmers, or fishermen. We must start by introducing them to the banking system," Widodo said.
The president also said that national savings will support investment. On the contrary, if financial inclusion rate stagnates, investment will run slowly.
On November 18, the government launched the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (SKNI) in a bid to push financial penetration and expand access to the public.
The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution said that the SNKI is a follow-up on the collaboration between the government, Bank Indonesia (BI), the Financial Services Authority (OJK), and the banking sector in addressing lack of financial access in many parts of Indonesia.
BISNIS.COM
