Keep Discipline in Paying Installment, President Jokowi Tells Loan Recipients

President Jokowi engages in conversation with a recipient of UMi, at Sodoha fish auction site, Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, Saturday (2/3). (Photo by: Rahmat/ PR)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo called on fishermen receiving government-sponsored Ultra Micro financing (UMi) to maintain discipline in paying UMi installment every month.

“The UMi is intended to develop and expand your businesses,” President Jokowi said when visiting Sodohoa fish auction site (TPI)/fish landing center (PPI) as part of his working visit to Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi province, Saturday (2/3).

President Jokowi also asked the fishermen to be careful in using the money and reminded them that trust will be maintained if the loan recipients keep discipline with the installment. The President also said he was a debtor of similar financing in which the amount of his loan increased as his business developed.

During his dialog with Ertin, an UMi recipient, President Jokowi told her if she is disciplined with the installment, she may borrow more money under Smallholder Business Credit (KUR) Program.

The President also reminded UMi recipients to keep a record of their income and expenditure to enable them to save the profits that can later be used to expand their businesses.

“A successful business always starts from scratch. It indeed takes hard work to be successful but we must be optimistic,” he said, adding that discipline, honesty, and hard work are the keys.

On that occasion, President Jokowi told people attending the event that he was born and raised in a small house in riverbank area in Solo; therefore, the President asked them to learn from his experience and work hard to be successful. “If you want to be a successful person, you must work twice as hard as others do,” President Jokowi said, adding that trust is really important.

In the meantime, Vice Minister of Finance Mardiasmo stated that loan ceiling of UMi is Rp10 million, taken from the State Budget (APBN). To date, he added, there are already 846,547 debtors with a total loan of Rp2.15 trillion. “We will work hard to make cooperative a linkage (between the Government and debtors),” he said. (EN/RAH/ES)

Translated by : Rany Anjany Subachrum
Edited by : M. Ersan Pamungkas