BI Asks Aceh MSMEs To Use QRIS For Transactions During PON

Illustration (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Bank Indonesia encourages micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Aceh to use the payment system digitally, especially the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) service for easy transactions for visitors to PON XXI Aceh-North Sumatra.

"This is an effort to improve the Aceh economy starting from MSMEs," said Head of Bank Indonesia Aceh Province Rony Widijrto as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, May 21.

He explained that the implementation of the XXI Aceh-Sumut PON which will take place on September 9-20, 2024, will bring thousands of tourists to the Tanah Rencong area, starting from athletes, officials to other supporters.

The PON XXI agenda that brought guests from Indonesia became a means of promoting various Acehnese potentials, ranging from the tourism sector to various other economic resources, so it is also hoped that it will increase sales of MSME products in Aceh.

Therefore, said Rony, to make transactions easier for consumers, his party encourages merchants to take advantage of the payment system using QRIS.

Bank Indonesia will target the MSME sector such as culinary, souvenirs to transportation, which will have a lot of activity with PON visitors to increase digital literacy so that they can take advantage of the payment system digitally.

"We make clusters, we see potential that will attract guests from PON, meaning from culinary, souvenir shops and transportation," he said.

Before the XXI PON took place, Bank Indonesia took the momentum of the Islamic new year, namely 1 Muharam 1446 Hijri in July 2024 to carry out digital understanding MSME activities, by bringing QRIS users to share experiences.

"We will take the momentum of the Islamic New Year 1 Muharam later, together with banks and the government to prepare MSMEs, they understand digital," he said.

He added that these efforts were made by Bank Indonesia and the government in order to prepare MSMEs to get used to payment transactions using QRIS.

"There are a lot of products in Aceh, meaning we also have to see and pay attention to guests, if it's comfortable not to use transfers and not use cash, but just scan the QRIS finished," he said.

In addition, Bank Indonesia also reminded that MSME actors in Aceh should include price labels on every product sold, such as souvenirs, culinary delights and other products.

His party invited the Aceh Government to jointly ensure the label or price list of each of these MSME products because it would really help tourists when shopping.

"I understand that the culture here is a common part, but the areas of tourist cities are used to it and that (price labels) make it easy," he said.