BI: Aceh's Economy In The Last 10 Years Is The Lowest In Sumatra

JAKARTA - Bank Indonesia Aceh Province recorded Aceh's economic growth in the last ten years with an average of 2.66 percent being the lowest in Sumatra, namely 3.92 percent.

"This is a portrait of Aceh's economic growth and we have conveyed this to all local governments. This figure is a portrait of the past which will later become a pressure to do better in the future," said the Head of Bank Indonesia Aceh Province, Achris Sarwani in Banda Aceh, as quoted by Antara, Monday, January 17.

He explained that the economy in Indonesia's westernmost province is still very dependent on the primary sector, namely agriculture and mining, and the minimal manufacturing sector.

He said the market share of the processing industry was still 4.68 percent, below the market share of the Sumatran processing industry sector of 20.50 percent.

"This means that agricultural and mining products in Aceh are not processed but are sold as unfinished materials so that they do not have an impact or added value in other sectors," he said.

According to him, in order to increase economic growth, there must be a big leap made by all stakeholders with the presence of the processing industry so that it will provide added value and have an impact on other sectors.

He believes that with the cooperation and collaboration carried out by all districts/cities in Aceh, efforts to increase economic growth will be realized as there is an added value to each commodity, especially in each region.

Achris, who was also accompanied by Deputy Head of Bank Indonesia Representative Office for Aceh Province, T Amir Hamzah, stated that he fully supports regional-based economic development efforts in accordance with regional potentials that have been agreed upon by the leaders in districts/cities in Aceh.