Airlangga Reveals There Is An Opportunity For Incentives To Local Governments If They Increase Inclusion And Literacy

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto. (Aris Nurjani / VOI)

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto revealed that there are opportunities in providing fiscal incentives for regions that can increase public financial inclusion and literacy.

Airlangga explained that until now the government has provided fiscal incentives to the regions, such as dealing with inflation and other activities in increasing financial inclusion.

"So maybe next year we can discuss this, of course with the new government. Because the envelope is there, it can be helped," said Airlangga during a press conference at the National Financial Smart Movement, Thursday, August 22.

Airlangga even joked that the incentives could be closed. "Only the envelope can be closed, sir," he said.

Responding to this, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) Mahendra Siregar welcomed the news.

"Good thank you, Mr. Coordinating Minister, I'm also happy to hear it earlier," Mahendra said on the same occasion.

Responding to Airlangga's joke, Mahendra joked that he and his party were ready to guard the envelope or expenditure post so that it could be distributed.

"We handle it so it doesn't close," he said.

Previously, when giving a speech, Mahendra asked for government support to be able to provide incentives to regions that have succeeded in increasing financial literacy and inclusion in each region.

"We expect the support of the Coordinating Minister for the entire government to be able to also provide incentives to regions that have succeeded in increasing financial literacy and inclusion in each region," Mahendra said in his remarks.

Furthermore, Mahendra hopes that the government through Airlangga can provide direction to the OJK to be able to increase its contribution in increasing financial inclusion and literacy.

For information, OJK has released the National Survey of Financial Literacy and Inclusion (SNLIK) which shows the Indonesian population financial literacy index at 65.43 percent and the financial inclusion index at 75.02 percent.