VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Head of the Syriah finance and MSME ecosystem task force of the Financial Services Authority (OJK), Ahmad Buchori, at a media briefing on Friday (February 4, 2022). (ANTARA/Sanya Dinda/FR) - 

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) obtained Rp13.6 trillion in financing from peer-to-peer fintech lenders in 2021, head of the Syriah finance and MSME ecosystem task force of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) has said.

"The fintech industry is growing. The money that it lends (to MSMEs) reached Rp13.6 trillion in 2021," Ahmad Buchori noted during a media briefing on Friday.

There are 103 fintech peer-to-peer lenders holding OJK permits for financing, which comprise 10.9 million lenders and 13.4 million borrowers, he informed.

During the event, he also highlighted that the Micro Wakaf Bank (BWM), established in 2017, has provided up to Rp78.2 billion in financing to MSMEs.

"The figure is expected to increase this year because the government is increasingly encouraging and expanding BWM," he noted.

OJK will continue to push financing for MSMEs so that they can survive the impact of COVID-19, Buchori said.

"The pandemic and PPKM (public activity restrictions) have affected MSMEs, with 84 percent of them experiencing a decline in revenue and 62 percent encountering hurdles concerning employees and operational troubles," he informed.

This is despite the fact that MSMEs, currently numbered at 65 million, make a large contribution to the national economy, he said.

MSMEs constitute 99 percent of the total businesses in Indonesia and employ 120 million workers, or 97 percent of Indonesia's total workforce, he noted.

Around 15.65 percent of national exports and 60.51 percent of Indonesia's total gross domestic product (GDP) is contributed by MSMEs, he added.

Hence, the effort to recover this sector is important to support the growth of the national economy, Buchori said.

OJK is also carrying out numerous polices, including extending a number of incentives until 2023 so that MSMEs can recover from the effects of the pandemic, he added//ANT

Minister Bahlil Lahadalia. (ANTARA/HO Kementerian Investasi/BKPM) - 

President Joko Widodo has appointed Bahlil Lahadalia, the current investment minister and head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), as the ad interim minister of energy and mineral resources (ESDM).

The appointment was based on a letter of the minister of state secretary, dated February 3, 2022, Tina Talisa, special staff to the Minister of Investment, noted in a statement here on Friday.

"President Joko Widodo has appointed Minister of Investment and Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia as the ad interim minister of energy and mineral resources," she stated.

Lahadalia chaired a meeting with all first echelon officials of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) on Friday this morning.

Talisa, however, did not explain the reason behind the appointment of Lahadalia in the ministerial post. She noted that Lahadalia continued to hold the position of investment minister and head of BKPM.

"Mr Bahlil holds concurrent positions as minister of investment/head of BKPM and minister of energy and mineral resources ad interim or temporarily only for the next few days," she remarked.

In the meantime, a spokesman of the ESDM Ministry told the press that Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif was undergoing self-isolation.

"The minister is in good condition. Now, he is in self-isolation. God willing, he will return to work next week. Please pray for him," Head of the Communications, Public Information Service and Cooperation Bureau of the ESDM Ministry Agung Pribadi noted in a statement here on Friday. Pribadi did not elaborate on the reason behind Minister Tasrif undergoing self-isolation. However, he confirmed that Investment Minister Lahadalia was the ad interim minister of energy and mineral resources.

Indonesia is currently experiencing a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases//ANT

Illustration - Heavy equipment machines operate in the construction area of a Wind Power Plant (PLTB) in Mattirotasi Village, Sidrap District, South Sulawesi Province. (ANTARA PHOTO/Abriawan Abhe/foc/rst) - 

The Indonesian Government will present a scenario for the national energy transition from fossil fuels to new and renewable energy in the Grand National Energy Strategy (GSEN) roadmap to the G20 forum.

"The Indonesian G20 presidency will be used by the government to introduce the world to our scenario in achieving Net Zero Emission (NZE) by 2060 or sooner," Expert Staff in Strategic Planning for Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Yudo Dwinanda Priaadi noted in a statement on Friday.

Priaadi explained that the GSEN targets a renewable energy mix of 100 percent by 2060, with a capacity of 587 gigawatts, including Solar Power Plant (PLTS), with 361 gigawatts; Hydroelectric Power Plant (PLTA), 83 gigawatts; Wind Power Plant (PLTB), 39 gigawatts; Nuclear Power Plant (PLTN), 35 gigawatts; Bio-energy Power Plant (PLTBio), 37 gigawatts; Geothermal Power Plant (PLTP), 18 gigawatts; and Ocean Power Plant (PLTL), 13.4 gigawatts.

The government emphasized that additional power generation after 2030 will only be sourced from renewable energy.

"Starting from 2035, Indonesia's Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) will be in the form of PLTS, PLTBio, and PLTL. PLTP will also be maximized up to 75 percent of its potential," Priaadi explained.

He later noted that the government will no longer develop Electric Steam Power Plant (PLTU), except for those that are already in contracts and construction. PLTU owned by State-Owned Electricity Company (PLN) will stop operating faster than asset revaluation.

Meanwhile, PLTU owned by a private electricity company will retire after the end of the power purchase agreement. Meanwhile, gas and steam power plants (PLTGU) will stop operating after 30 years.

The government will also maximize the use of PLTA by transferring electricity to the load centers in other islands to support national energy security. In addition, PLTA will provide a balance for variable renewable energy generators.

The nuclear power plant will also start around 2049 to maintain system reliability. The pumped storage will start in 2025 with a 2060 target of 4.2 gigawatts.

Priaadi noted that the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) technology will become enormous by 2031, with the capability to reach 140 gigawatts by 2060.

"The government will also utilize hydrogen in 2031. In 2060, it is expected to reach 52 gigawatts," he remarked//ANT

Secretary of the State Secretariat Ministry, Setya Utama, at a virtual event on G20 on Friday (February 4, 2022). (ANTARA/Mentari Dwi Gayati/FR) - 

There are three opportunities that Indonesia should utilize as it assumes the G20 Presidency so that the nation can participate in global economic recovery and advance itself, an official has stated.

"The first is the transition to the green economy. The next one relates to the growing economic digital trend," State Secretariat Ministry's secretary Setya Utama highlighted at a virtual event on Friday.

"The third concerns fixing the global health architecture so that it will be more responsive in handling the global pandemic," he said.

He explained that the world is currently experiencing a double disruption or shift in work as a result of digitalization or automation, which has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the current less-than-fortunate circumstances, every nation will need to continue to actively produce goods through advanced technology utilization, he said.

To this end, Indonesia's G20 Presidency should be utilized to create a breakthrough and promote real action to recover the socio-economic condition, both nationally and globally, Utama added.

Indonesia's appointment as the G20 host until November marks a new history considering that it is the first time that the multi-lateral cooperation forum is being held in the country since G20 was formed in 1999, he noted.

Through the theme "Recover Together, Recover Stronger," Indonesia has also invited all nations in the world to work together toward collective recovery and grow stronger in a sustainable manner, he said.

"If we can capitalize on this opportunity, we can have this G20 Presidency bring optimal benefits for the good of the nation," he remarked.

Disseminating information on Indonesia's G20 Presidency is important to bolster the public's trust and to yield a positive attitude, director general of public information and communication at the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, Usman Kansong, said at the same event.

"Disseminated information will arouse positive public participation towards Indonesia's G20 Presidency," he remarked//ANT