Jokowi Asks Ministries To Boost Consumption For Growth

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo asked all levels of ministries and institutions to boost consumption to help national economic positive growth in the second half of 2023.

This was conveyed by President Jokowi in an introduction to the Plenary Cabinet Session of the First Semester Report on the Implementation of the 2023 State Budget at the State Palace in Jakarta, Monday, July 3.

"Make sure economic growth grows positively in the second half. What should we do, contract household consumption. I think I know everything that should be done", Jokowi said as quoted by ANTARA.

The President also asked his staff to continue to strive to realize the stability of prices for basic necessities and the availability of foodstuffs and continue to maintain inflation in the regions.

"Also make sure the investment achievement is on target, this is key. Then for food, ensure the availability of fertilizers on target and maintain monetary stability and stability in the banking sector, this is also very important", he explained.

Jokowi said Indonesia should be grateful because national economic growth is relatively high above 5 percent and during the six consecutive quarters the national economy grew above 5 percent

In addition, the World Bank as of July 2023 again included Indonesia in the group upper middle income countries after having taken to the lower middle income country group in 2020 due to the pandemic.

"However, the situation we face in the second half of 2023 is not easy and we have to be aware of several things", said the President.

According to Jokowi, what Jokowi must watch out for is the global environment that is still unstable, geopolitical tensions that are still ongoing and have an impact on economic growth and weakened trade activities, to predictions from various international institutions over the slowdown in the global economy and also the increase in global interest rates.

"Global inflation is also still relatively high, then if we look at global trade fragmentation that hinders multilateral cooperation, and various early indicators for consumption and production show a situation that, some are positive but some are also weakened, we must also look at this carefully", explained the President.

Jokowi also reminded that political competition that might occur ahead of the 2024 General Election should not interfere with government programs.