VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo has asked his ministers to keep focusing on working in 2018 political year. In his remark at a Cabinet Plenary Meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday, President Joko Widodo  highlighted the higher trust of the international community towards Indonesia for Indonesia’s efforts in supporting national economic resilience. The President has asked his ministers to focus on increasing national economy. 

“…As for this year, even though 2018 is a political year, once again  I ask to keep focusing on working in a bid to increase the economic growth, dealing with inequality, as well as reducing the poverty rate. The trust of the international community has been increasing due to our works, namely reforming the permit regulations for doing business in Indonesia. We know that the Fitch Rating has announced our growing rank from triple B- (BBB minus) to triple B (BBB) with a stable outlook. The main factor is Indonesia’s effort to improve its economic resilience against any turbulences and our consistency to maintain such stability. With all we have done during the past year, we must improve it in 2018,” the President said. 

The Cabinet Plenary Meeting was conducted to discuss steps to be taken in 2018. President Joko Widodo has asked his ministers to start working from early year, saying that he has submitted Budget ImplementationList (DIPA) in the end of 2017 to support ministries and agencies in implementing various work programs.   The President also reminded his ministries and agencies that the work program being implemented does not become a monotonous program so that poverty and social inequality in the country can really be solved. (Ndy/edt ahm)

Based on the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) monitoring data in September 2017, the number of poor people in Indonesia reached 26.58 million people or 10.12 percent from the total population. Head of the Central Bureau of Statistics, Kecuk Suhariyanto explained the figure is an exciting achievement. The number of poor people decreased by 1.19 million people compared with that of March 2017 which amounted to 27.77 million people or 10.64 percent. In a Press Briefing held on Tuesday (2/1), he explained that the decline of poor people in 2017 is the best achievement compared to the last 7 years.

“September 2017 is the best achievement. It was the fastest decline when compared with the last 7 years since 2011. From March 2017 to September 2017, the percentage of the poor decreased to 0.52 percent,” Kecuk Suhariyanto said.

Suharyanto further explained the number of poor reduced both in the village and urban areas. According to him, the percentage of poor people in the village is much higher than that in the rural area. This shows that the disparities between the cities and villages are quite high. He explained that the factors causing the depletion of the poor are controlled by inflation, the increasing of wages of farm laborers, and the construction workers. Some food commodity prices have also decreased like sugar. In addition, the pre-prosperous rice program has also been received by the targeted families. (Sekar.trs.Rezha)

Based on the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) monitoring in 82 cities, in December 2017 there was an inflation of 0.71 percent. Head of the Central Bureau of Statistics, Kecuk Suhariyanto explained, with the figure, inflation in 2017 amounted to 3.61 percent. In a Press Briefing on Tuesday (2/1), Suharyanto said that the inflation figure is good. The 3.61 percent inflation lies on below the inflation target set by the Revised State Budget of 2017 at 4.3 percent. Based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics, since 2011 the inflation has moved forward in 2013 and 2014 above 2015. But since the last 3 years the inflation has been better.

"Over the last three years the inflation has been relatively under control and below the target. We certainly hoped this success can be repeated in 2018 by  keeping the pattern which occurred in

2017inflation, Suharyanto said.

Suharyanto further explained, since January to December 2017, the highest inflation occurred in January and December 2017. There were deflation twice in March and August. Inflation in December 2017 amounted to 0.71 percent due to price increases, especially on the foodstuffs and transportation, communication and financial services. The inflation rate in the same period of 2016 and 2015 were by 3.02 percent and 3.35 percent respectively. Suharyanto said,the government’s control over the price of goods are relatively well// (Sekar.trs.Rezha)