Improving The Welfare Of Rural Communities, OJK Launches An Inclusive Financial Ecosystem Program

Doctors. Financial Services Authority (OJK)

JAKARTA - The Financial Services Authority (OJK) continues to increase financial inclusion, especially in rural areas through the Inclusive Financial Ecosystem (EKI) program to empower and improve people's welfare.

"The key to national economic growth is the strength of domestic potential, namely regional economic growth. Of course, by supporting all economies in the region, it is at the village level," said OJK Board of Commissioners Mahendra Siregar in his official statement, Sunday, August 4.

Mahendra said that since last year, 35 Regional OJK Offices have been given additional tasks, namely inventory, mapping, and supporting the growth and optimization of leading sectors and industries in each province as a whole to the district and city levels.

"Meanwhile, for the village area, it is welcomed by the EKI program so that participation and benefits are felt more thoroughly. For this reason, we are working with local governments through the Regional Financial Access Acceleration Team (TPAKD)," he explained.

Present at the event were Minister of State Secretary RI Pratikno, Chief Executive of the Behavior Supervisory of Financial Services Business Actors, Education and Protection of OJK Consumers Friderica Widyasari Dewi, Deputy Commissioner for International Relations, APU-PPT and Regions concurrently Plt. Head of the East Java OJK Office Bambang Mukti Riyadi, Acting Regent of Bojonegoro Regency Adriyanto, Deputy Head of the East Java Bank Indonesia Representative Office M. Noor Nugroho, and the head of representatives of the Financial Services Institute.

Minister of State Secretary of the Republic of Indonesia Pratikno also appreciated the OJK's initiative for efforts to create a machine for economic growth that drives the economy of the people in Dolokgede Village.

Our village is quite rich. Here in the past there were several tobacco lands that produced export cigars, so they are quite prosperous here, but then experienced degradation. So, we really need to make new machines to grow potential here," explained Pratikno.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive of the Behavior Supervisory of Financial Services Business Actors, Education and Protection of OJK Consumers, Friderica Widyasari Dewi, said that the EKI initiation includes the Desangku Capa Keuangan program which describes OJK's efforts to grow new economic resources in Indonesia, especially for rural areas in Indonesia.

"We have initiated 36 EKIs, thank God, the results have had an impact on increasing public financial literacy and inclusion, especially how to make people choose financial access so that they can improve people's welfare through one of which is empowerment of MSMEs in rural areas," said Friderica.

Friderica conveyed that the achievements of the EKI program in terms of financial inclusion include opening savings accounts (regular, students, gold) of more than 8,000 accounts, distributing credit/financing to more than 1,500 debtors, adding financial access points through Laku Pandai agents and facilitating the QRIS payment system. As well as 500 financial/accompaniment education activities to the village community.

In 2024, the EKI program will be implemented in 44 village areas under the coordination of the Regional Financial Access Acceleration Team (TPAKD) by involving OJK offices in the regions, related Ministries/Institutions and Financial Services Institutions, one of which is in Dolokgede Village, Bojonegoro Regency, East Java Province.

Dolokgede Village has a leading sector in productive agriculture and adequate sports infrastructure, so it has the potential to create an edusport-based tourist destination in Bojonegoro Regency.

One of EKI's ungglan programs in Dolokgede Village is the "Desaku Capap Keuangan" Program, which aims to increase public understanding in rural areas about institutions, products, and financial services through training and education to village officials and the entire village community.