President Jokowi Launches Domestic Gov’t Credit Card, International QRIS

President Jokowi on the Launching of Domestic Government Credit Card and International QRIS, Monday (08/29), in Jakarta. (Photo by: Agung/PR)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo officially launched the Domestic Government Credit Card and the International Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) payment systems, Monday (08/29), at the Bank Indonesia, Jakarta.

In his remarks, the President expressed appreciation for the launch of the two products as a form of digital economic development in the country.

“I appreciate the Domestic Government Credit Card and the QRIS launched by Bank Indonesia. This shows that Indonesia is following the pace of digital technology transformation in the economic sector,” said the President.

The President asked central bank Bank Indonesia (BI) to oversee and assist government agencies to adapt to the new system. The existence of this system is expected to accelerate the payment of government spending, he added.

“I ask the Governor of Bank Indonesia and state-owned banks to accompany and oversee the ministries, institutions, provincial governments, district governments and city governments to immediately adopt this new system so that there is speed in payment,” he said.

In line with that, he continued, the Government is also building a system to support the use of domestic products, especially the products of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Government spending through the procurement of goods and services is prioritized for the purchase of domestic products.

“This is what I told the Head of LKPP (Government Goods and Services Procurement Policy Agency) many times, to immediately complete a system to cater this issue so that all regions can easily purchase domestic products through this system,” he said.

Regarding QRIS, President Jokowi expressed hope that this system can improve transaction efficiency with QR Codes between countries in ASEAN.

“I also order the Bank Indonesia to connect QRIS with other countries so that our MSMEs and our tourism sector can connect with other countries easier, both with Thailand and all ASEAN countries,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in his report said that the launch of the Domestic Government Credit Card is a step forward for the Indonesian people to improve services in the government spending system.

It is also part of the affirmative action of government spending in the spirit of the Proudly Made in Indonesia National Movement (Gernas BBI) launched by President Jokowi, in Bali last March.

“In addition, the development of the Domestic Government Credit Card is a form of implementation of Presidential Instruction Number 2 of 2022 on the use of non-cash transactions for goods and services expenditures for Central Government and regional governments,” said Luhut.

Luhut explained that it was important to implement the use of the Domestic Government Credit Card immediately for the sake of transparency, providing convenience, and accelerating payments in government goods and services spending transactions.

“For this reason, all ministries/agencies and SOEs are expected to immediately use the Domestic Government Credit Card in their respective agencies,” Luhut said.

Furthermore, he also encouraged the implementation of the Domestic Government Credit Card in regional governments with support from the regional development bank to accelerate the expansion of program. (TGH/MAY/UN) (EST/MUR)