INDEF: Ramadan and Idulfitri 2026 Momentum Must Be Used to Boost Economic Growth

JAKARTA - The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) assesses that the momentum of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 2026, needs to be optimally utilized to encourage economic growth in the first and second quarters, with the potential sectors of food, transportation and logistics.

INDEF Executive Director, Esther Sri Astuti, said that the sector deserved stimulus so that its leverage on the national economy would be greater.

He said that the increase in food prices that often occurred during that period needed to be anticipated through policies that could maintain stability while ensuring the availability of supplies in the community.

Apart from food, Esther emphasized the importance of supporting the transportation sector, given the tradition of homecoming which encourages a surge in community mobility which has the potential to make a significant contribution to economic activity, both in large cities and in destination areas.

Furthermore, he highlighted the logistics sector which plays an important role in maintaining the smooth distribution of goods.

"The logistics sector, usually the delivery of goods and demand for goods increases before Lebaran, because consumption increases," said Esther, quoted by Antara, Saturday, February 14.

The increase in household consumption during Ramadan until Eid al-Fitr 2026, he said, will have a direct impact on the increase in distribution and delivery activities.

To optimize the role of these three sectors, Esther suggested that the government provide various forms of stimulus, such as through price and tariff subsidies, as well as the implementation of market operations to increase food supplies.

According to Esther, these steps not only maintain people's purchasing power during the period of religious holidays, but also become an effective instrument in supporting economic growth in the first half of 2026.

Previously, Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa was optimistic that Indonesia's economy would be able to achieve growth of 5.6 percent in the first quarter of 2026, because there was a discount stimulus for transportation during the National Holiday (HBN) period of Eid al-Fitr 2026.

"We give discounts to drag the economy," Purbaya told reporters in Jakarta, Thursday, February 12.

The stimulus is a continuation of the previous HBN incentive which shows a positive impact on the economy.

On Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026, for example, community mobility and tourism activities increased, so that they were able to drive economic growth in the fourth quarter to 5.39 percent.

"If the economic growth in the first quarter is projected at 5.6 percent," said the Minister of Finance.