Airlangga Says Year-End Discounts Help Save State Foreign Exchange Up To IDR 80 Trillion

Coordinating Minister Airlangga Hartarto (Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto responded positively to various year-end discount programs. According to him, the program also saves the country's foreign exchange of up to Rp80 trillion.

It is known that various programs have been launched at the end of the year, such as the National Online Shopping Day Program (Harbolnas) on December 10-16, 2024 and the Expenditure Program in Indonesia Aja (BINA) which is still ongoing until December 29, 2024, as well as the 2024 Sale Every Purchase is Chemical (EPIC) on December 20-31, 2024.

"If calculated in this month, starting from Harbolnas, BINA, to EPIC Sale, Every Purchase is Cheat, it can get Rp80 trillion. Well, Rp80 trillion if you spend around 5 billion US dollars, it means that 5 billion US dollars is only saving foreign exchange spending in Indonesia," said Airlangga at the launch of the EPIC Sale 2024 Program in Tangerang, citing ANTARA, Sunday, December 22.

Based on Nielsen data, consumer spending on daily necessities (fast-moving consumer goods/FMCG) and technology in the third quarter of 2024 grew compared to the previous period and reached IDR 256 trillion.

Meanwhile, the results of a survey by Bank Indonesia (BI) in November 2024 recorded the Consumer Confidence Index (IKK) at an optimistic and higher level than the previous month, reaching 125.9. For this reason, the Government continues to encourage these cheap shopping programs to boost the Indonesian economy.

On this occasion, APRINDO General Chairperson Solihin said that the average retail sales in one year could reach turnover of approximately IDR 424 trillion.

The EPIC Sale program is encouraged to invite the public to spend even harder.

Furthermore, Coordinating Minister Airlangga is optimistic that the targets set out in Harbolnas by ideas, BINA by HIPPINDO, and APRINDO's EPIC Sale can be achieved.

The achievement of this target shows that the purchasing power of Indonesians is still strong, especially if it is driven by cheap prices and attractive discounts. Coordinating Minister Airlangga also said that the Government also continues to monitor minimarkets that help the Government in stabilizing prices.

Then on this occasion Coordinating Minister Airlangga also emphasized regarding the 12 percent VAT tariff policy. He said that the basic commodities were important and all their derivatives were not subject to VAT 12 percent.