President Jokowi Encourages Business World to be Optimistic About Indonesia

President Jokowi attends the 2017 Annual Meeting of Bank Indonesia, at the Assembly Hall 1 dan 2 Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Jakarta, on Tuesday (28/11)

Indonesia’s household spending declines from 7 percent to 4.93 – 4.95 percent. Regading that matter, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo reminded all that Indonesian Consumer Profile is now different.

President Jokowi mentioned that global economic growth also declines from 5 percent to 3 percent. Same situation also happens in China, in which the economy is at 6 percent from the previous 11 to 12 percent.

“We should understand these changes so we can make right policies based on those figures,” President Jokowi said in a remarks at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Bank Indonesia (BI) , at the Assembly Hall 1 dan 2 Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Jakarta, on Tuesday (28/11).

The President asserted that many parameters have changed, so does consumer behaviour. “There are many new business models which change consumer, and consumption behaviours. Lastly, there are also issues relating with purchasing power,” President Jokowi added.

According to the President, many people do not realize it. People used to go to shopping to malls or stores, but now people spend their money on tourism, the President added.

“This is the swifting that we should understand. Also the swifting from offline shop to online shop; we must accept these changes whether we like it or not,” President Jokowi explained.

Regarding reports about Indonesia’s weak consumer purchasing power, President Jokowi answered that the report he received doesn’t show the weakening. The President added that Value Added Tax (PPN) Revenue significantly increases from 2.9 percent two years ago to 12.1 percent.

It indicates that there are transactions which move the PPN Revenue, the President added. “Considering that the PPN Revenue increases to 12.1 percent, that means there are transactions and trading. The previous growth is only at 2.9 percent,” the President said.

On tourism sector, we should be grateful that number of foreign tourist visiting Indonesia reaches 10.46 million people or increased by 25 percent in the third quarter this year. The President asserted that the increase is very high considering that average tourism visitor growth rate worldwide is approximately only five percent compared to the same period, while foreign tourist visiting Indonesia in 2016 was 8.36 million.

According to the President, those momentums should make business world become optimistic about Indonesia.

“We could not let Indonesia featured in any pessimistic and negative issues. Those figures (foreign tourist visit) should make us optimistic,” President Jokowi said.

Also on that occasion, President Jokowi mentioned that Indonesia’s export value in January-September 2017 reached US$123.36 billion or increased by 17.36 percent compared to the sampe period in 2016. Meanwhile, Non-Oil and Gas Export increased by 17.37 percent or US$125.6 billion, which is a new record and higher than the revenue during last commodities boom.

“If we keep maintaining this situation and commitment, I think we will be on the right track which will benefit our economy,” President Jokowi firmly said.

The 2017 Annual Meeting of Bank Indonesia (BI)  was attended by the heads of government institutions, Working Cabinet ministers, governors, heads of regions, heads of bankings and non-banking coorporations, academics, economists, and representatives of several international institutions.

Also attending the Meeting were Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, and Governor of Bank Indonesia Agus Martowardoyo. (FID/JAY/ES) (RAS/MMB/Naster)