TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Financial Services Authorities (OJK) chairman Muliaman Hadad said that banks lending growth is expected to increase by 13.25 percent year on year in 2017, as set in the Banking Business Plan (RBB). The OJK also expects that the total asset and the third party funds will grow by 11.28 percent and 11.94 percent, respectively.
"Banks are optimistic that the 2017 economic growth in 2017 would be better than in 2016, due to successful tax amnesty program, commodity prices improvement, and global economic recovery," Muliaman said during a press conference at his office in Jakarta on Friday, December 30, 2016.
Based on the 2017 RBB, Muliaman explained that the lending growth in 2017 is expected to grow by Rp 4,995 trillion (US$384 billion). In addition the growth of banks total assets and third party funds are expected to reach Rp 7,352 trillion (US$565 billion) and Rp 5,304 trillion (US$408 billion), respectively.
Muliaman revealed that loans would be distributed mainly to tourism, agriculture, energy, and maritime sectors. According to Muliaman, the value of loans distributed to the maritime sector is still insignificant.
"Next year, this [loans for the maritime sector] would be boosted in many ways, such as providing flexibility related to micro loans for fishermen and fishing businesses," Muliaman added.
Muliaman believed that the Agriculture sector would be the driving force for the lending growth next year.
"We want loans to be distributed to productive sectors beside trade. We are working with stakeholders to design financing schemes," Muliaman said.
ANGELINA ANJAR SAWITRI
