President Jokowi Applauds Central, Regional Inflation Control Teams

President Jokowi inaugarates the Opening of the National Coordination Meeting on Inflation Control in 2023 at the State Palace in Jakarta, Thursday (08/31) (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Rahmat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Thursday (08/31) expressed his gratitude to the Central Inflation Control Team (TPIP) and the Regional Inflation Control Team (TPID) as well as his related administrations including Governors, Mayors, and Regents for successfully managing inflation at 3.08 percent in July 2023.

For the record, Indonesia’s inflation rate is lower than that of several countries, such as Argentina at 113 percent, Türkiye at 47 percent, India at 7.4 percent, the European Union at 5.3 percent, and the United States at 3.2 percent.

President Jokowi went on to say that such the success is inseparable from the synergy among monetary authorities, fiscal authorities, and inflation control teams.

“Controlling inflation with an increase in interest rates, if there is a lack of stock, prices will surely rise. Controlling inflation through monetary policy, through an increase in interest rates, but the distribution of goods is disrupted due to infrastructure issues, it will not have any impact. It is a vital combination among monetary and fiscal policies, and ground inspection,” the President said during the Opening of the National Coordination Meeting on Inflation Control in 2023 at the State Palace in Jakarta.

Previously, Governor of the Bank Indonesia (BI) Perry Warjiyo said that that Indonesia’s consumer price index (CPI) inflation recorded a decreasing trend, while underscoring that such success is an impact of the consistent, integrated national policies as well as close cooperation between BI and the Government at both the central and regional levels.

Perry further said that BI is committed to supporting the Government’s efforts in controlling food inflation by encouraging the Central and the Regional Inflation Control Teams and by strengthening the implementation of the National Movement for Food Inflation Control iniated by the President on August 18, 2022.

Echoing the same sentiment, Minister of Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that achieving inflation control within the range of Indonesia’s target can be realized through the 4K strategy; affordability of prices, supply availability, distribution efficiency, and effective communication complemented by fiscal, monetary, and real sector policies.

“Some lessons we have learned from this are strengthening collaboration among ministries, institutions, and regional governments; promoting inter-regional trade cooperation; integrating upstream and downstream technology utilization; and ensuring accurate, real-time data through market monitoring and essential needs systems,” he remarked.

During the National Coordination Meeting on Inflation Control in 2023, list of the Regional Inflation Control Teams that won the 2022 TPID Award was also announced. They are as follows.

High-achieving TPID in Regency/City Level:

• Tanah Datar regency
• Tasikmalaya regency
• Landak regency
• Minahasa regency
• Sabu Raijua regency

Best TPID in Regency/City Level:

• Palembang city
• Banyuwangi regency
• Tarakan city
• Bone regency
• Kupang city

Best TPID in Province Level:

• Bengkulu province
• DKI Jakarta province
• South Kalimantan province
• South Sulawesi province
• East Nusa Tenggara province

(TGH/KS/FID/UN) (AP/LW)