JAKARTA | ACEH INFO – The Financial Services Authority (OJK) targets national financial literacy to reach 98 percent in 2024. For this reason, OJK launched the National Financial Smart Movement (Gencarkan) Thursday, August 22, 2024 at JiExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartanto, who also acts as the Daily Chairperson of the National Council for Financial Inclusion (DNKI), revealed that the Gencarkan Program is a tangible manifestation of the collaboration and coordination of the implementation of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (SNKI). Airlangga also appreciated OJK’s initiation in making a breakthrough in accelerating and equitable distribution of financial literacy and inclusion through the Gencarkan program.
“DNKI always and together with OJK encourages all parties, all Ministries / Institutions, Local Governments, industry, society, academics, and the media to participate, collaborate, to succeed in this National Financial Smart Movement Declaration program. Furthermore, we believe that financial literacy and inclusion will help millions of our people to be able to escape poverty and of course will ultimately change the progress of the Indonesian economy,” Airlangga said.
At the same event, Chairman of the OJK Board of Commissioners Mahendra Siregar explained that the launch of the Gencarkan Program was carried out to encourage an increase in financial literacy and inclusion massively and evenly throughout Indonesia.
OJK Targets National Financial Inclusion 98 Percent in 2045
The Gencarkan Program was prepared as an effort for all stakeholders to orchestrate a national movement to improve financial literacy and inclusion in supporting economic growth and improving people’s welfare.
Mahendra added that the Gencarkan program also refers to the results of the 2024 National Survey of Financial Literacy and Inclusion (SNLIK) organized by OJK and BPS which states that the current level of financial inclusion in Indonesia is 75.02 percent, while the financial literacy index of the Indonesian population is 65.43 percent.
“The SNLIK 2024 results show that there is still room to improve financial literacy and inclusion in Indonesia. We believe that strengthening both is the key to improving liquidity and market deepening, which will have an impact on the development of the financial services sector, including increased financing disbursements. If we continue to encourage this, it will provide leverage for national economic growth,” Mahendra said.
In addition, OJK also sees the rise of illegal financial activities and online gambling as well as financially vulnerable groups that need special attention such as women, youth and students, MSMEs, 3T communities (frontier, disadvantaged, and outermost), as well as groups with disabilities and Indonesian migrant workers.
To encourage an increasingly progressive increase in financial literacy and inclusion and to protect the public, active participation of all stakeholders is needed, starting from the Central Government, Regional Governments and financial services business actors to collaborate in carrying out massive and equitable Gencarkan in all regions.
Meanwhile, the Executive Head of Supervision of Financial Services Business Actors Behavior, Education and Consumer Protection of OJK Friderica Widyasari Dewi said that in terms of financial literacy, the Gencarkan program is expected to reach all districts / cities and target all priority groups with the support of PUJK office networks spread throughout Indonesia.
“The GENCARKAN program also encourages the birth of 2 Million Ambassadors and Agents of Financial Literacy and Inclusion who can provide a multiplier effect through various financial education activities for the wider community. The Gencarkan program will also be carried out in a multichannel manner so that it is expected to reach up to 50 million Indonesians,” said Friderica.
Friderica added, through the Gencarkan program, it is targeted that by 2025 as many as 90 percent of Indonesian students will have savings. Furthermore, through Simpanan Mahasiswa dan Pemuda (SiMuda) savings, it is expected that as many as 2.5 million groups of students and youth will have accounts.
The Gencarkan program also encourages the opening of access to MSME credit through the credit / financing program against loan sharks (K / PMR) so that it can reach 1.6 million debtors, and accelerate the use of financial products by 30 percent of groups with disabilities.
“The end-state that we expect through this Gencarkan Program is that the National Financial Inclusion Index can reach 98 percent at the Golden Indonesia celebration in 2045,” said Friderica.
Friderica added, through the Gencarkan program, it is targeted that by 2025 as many as 90 percent of Indonesian students will have savings. Furthermore, through Simpanan Mahasiswa dan Pemuda (SiMuda) savings, it is expected that as many as 2.5 million groups of students and youth will have accounts.
The Gencarkan program also encourages the opening of access to MSME credit through the credit / financing program against loan sharks (K / PMR) so that it can reach 1.6 million debtors, and accelerate the use of financial products by 30 percent of groups with disabilities.
“The end-state that we expect through this Gencarkan Program is that the National Financial Inclusion Index can reach 98 percent at the Golden Indonesia celebration in 2045,” said Friderica.
The launching of the Gencarkan Program with “Financially Intelligent Society Towards Golden Indonesia 2045” was held while commemorating Indonesia’s Day of Saving (HIM) in 2024 and was attended by Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartanto, OJK Board of Commissioners, Commission XI DPR RI Indah Kurnia, as well as leaders and associations of the Financial Services Industry. In addition, the launching activity was also attended by more than 1,300 participants consisting of students, students, MSME players and other community members.
Asoe Lhoks Volunteers Clarify XX Fake Support Claims
Asoe Lhoks Volunteers, which since its inception has expressed its support for the candidate pair (Paslon) Ismail, S.E. and Azhar Mahmud, S.E. (IMAM) as candidates for Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Lhokseumawe for the period 2024-2029, issued an important clarification today.
This clarification was made following the circulation of a short video a few hours ago. The video shows a group of people on behalf of Asoe Lhoks Volunteers staying in touch and providing political support to Paslon Sayuti Abubakar and Husaini Pom. The video immediately sparked confusion among the community and supporters.
In the video, there is an individual with the initials RD who is known to have been expelled from the Asoe Lhoks Volunteer two weeks ago due to internal problems related to mandates that were not conveyed to the community. “The people present in the video were also never seen when we held meetings. Maybe they are just party sympathizers of the Paslon,” said Zamzami, Chairman of Asoe Lhoks Volunteer.
Zamzami also urged Pilkada contestants to play politics with ethics and garner public sympathy wisely. He emphasized that all members of the Asoe Lhoks Volunteers will not be influenced by this kind of propaganda. In addition, Zamzami asked RD to immediately provide clarification regarding his presence on behalf of Asoe Lhoks Volunteers in the video.
Responding to this situation, Zamzami and all members of the Asoe Lhoks Volunteers immediately held a meeting to clarify their position. During the meeting, Zamzami emphasized that Asoe Lhoks Volunteers still support the IMAM pair, namely Ismail, S.E. and Azhar Mahmud, S.E., as candidates for Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Lhokseumawe.
“We still support Lhokseumawe’s best son, namely the IMAM pair, Ismail, S.E. and Azhar Mahmud, S.E.,” said Zamzami, who was then followed by a similar statement from all members of the Asoe Lhoks Volunteer who attended the meeting.