VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta (voinews): President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on regional authorities to facilitate the granting of permits for arts and sports events, such as musical concerts and football matches, to bolster public spending.

He said that he had met governors, deputy governors, and regional secretaries for such permit granting matters.

"(I say) do not restrict because it is related to public spending. Let the public spend (their money) to watch musical concerts or football matches," the president stated, as observed from the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel.

At the 2023 Association of Indonesian Provincial Governments (APPSI) National Working Meeting in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Thursday, Jokowi said he had projected three thousand arts and sports events to take place this year following the end of the COVID-19 activities restriction.

Such events must be encouraged by regional authorities, as they could drive economic development by bolstering public spending, he affirmed.

The president noted that public savings worth Rp690 trillion were idling in banks, as residents controlled their expenses, especially during the activities restriction enforcement.

He also reminded governors of their obligation to maintain and increase household consumption.

To this end, Jokowi expressed optimism that by 2024, the public consumption rate would reach 5.4 percent, increasing from 4.93 percent in 2022.

Moreover, he urged regional authorities to expedite the granting of permits for arts and sports events, as event organizers complained that they often received the permit only as late as mere days before the event's D-day despite months of preparations being needed.

"A problem (that I noticed) after meeting event organizers is that our speed in granting permits is low. The permits were granted only two or three days before the event's D-day," Jokowi stated.

The president suggested regional authorities issue the event permit at least two months before the event day to ensure event organizers have more time to plan and promote their agenda. (Antaranews)