Almost Touching IDR 16,000 Per US Dollar, Airlangga: This Is Not A Weak Rupiah

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto (Photo: dock. VOI)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto assessed that the recent rupiah exchange rate which almost touched Rp. 16,000 per US dollar was mainly caused by the US dolas index which continued to strengthen.

Furthermore, Airlangga explained that the strong US dollar index was also reflected in the depreciation experienced by the currencies of many countries other than the rupiah.

"This is not a weakened rupiah, US dollars are strengthening. Therefore, to all countries," he said when met in Jakarta, Tuesday, October 24.

Based on Bloomberg data, as of Tuesday afternoon, the rupiah exchange rate against the US dollar moved at IDR 15,880.

Airlangga said the trend of weakening the rupiah and the strong US dollar index became the government's attention. Therefore, a number of policies were prepared to respond to this.

"We just anticipate that," said Airlangga.

Separately, the Head of the Fiscal Policy Agency of the Ministry of Finance, Febrio N. Kacaribu, said that the weakening of the rupiah against the dolae was not caused by sentiment originating from within the country.

"But the dollar is indeed strengthening," he said.

Febria assessed that the US dollar strengthened amid the high demand for the United States currency. One of them was triggered by the swelling of the US government's budget deficit.

"Why is the dollar getting stronger? They need to finance the US deficit, the US deficit is going very sharply," said Febrio.