Sovereign Rupiah Expedition 2024 Will Visit 5 Islands In Kaltara

JAKARTA - The first expedition of the 2024 Sovereign Rupiah Expedition (ERB) with KRI Dr. Soeharso-990 will take place from 23 to 29 February 2024. Where by visiting five islands in North Kalimantan (Kaltara).

"By visiting five destination islands in North Kalimantan Province, namely Sebatik, Derawan, Maratua, Talisayan and Bunyu," said Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI) Doni P Joewono quoting Antara.

The inauguration of ERB 2024 was marked by the departure of the warship fleet of the Republic of Indonesia (KRI) Dr. Soeharso-990 from Lantamal XIII, Tarakan.

The inaugural release of ERB 2024 was also coupled with the inauguration of the Sovereign Rupiah Monument on Sebatik Island, Nunukan Regency.

With the aim of growing and strengthening the sense of nationalism and building awareness of the importance of safeguarding the sovereignty of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) and increasing public understanding that the rupiah is the only legal and mandatory means of payment in all regions of the Republic of Indonesia.

As a form of BI's commitment to ensuring the availability of money worth distribution in the territory of the Republic of Indonesia, BI together with the TNI.

ERB 2024 activities will be carried out in 18 provinces in Indonesia with a target reach of 90 islands in the Outermost, Outermost, and Remote (3T) areas.

"Bank Indonesia will always ensure the availability of quality and decent rupiah currency in order to maintain the smooth running of economic activity and support the momentum of national economic recovery," said Doni.

BI will also continue to strengthen coordination between ministries/Institutions to ensure that rupiah currency is suitable for distribution is always available in meeting the needs of the people throughout the Republic of Indonesia.

There are several aspects of strengthening ERB 2024 compared to previous expeditions. Such as increasing the number of islands that are targeted, increasing the amount of money exchanged, providing health services with the Indonesian Navy medical team, and collaborating with the National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas) in the distribution of Zakat, Infaq and Sedekah (ZIS).

With the challenge of distributing money, especially related to the geographical condition of the Republic of Indonesia, which has thousands of islands, bordering 11 neighboring countries and limited infrastructure, especially in the 3T region.

Since 2012, BI has been working with the Indonesian Navy to support the distribution, security and escort of Rupiah money in the 3T NKRI region.

As of 2023, 110 mobile cash exchange activities have been carried out in 3T with a range of 565 islands.

Meanwhile, in 2023 17 ERB activities have been carried out in 17 provinces with a reach of 85 3T islands with a rupiah exchange value of IDR 131.5 billion.

This collaboration is expected to have a positive impact in an effort to maintain the integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia.

"Both in terms of defense and military, as well as economic sovereignty, and are expected to further strengthen the Republic of Indonesia in achieving advanced Indonesia," he said again.