Speaking At UIN Raden Fatah, Airlangga Challenges The Emergence Of Unicorn Startups From Palembang

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto (Photo via Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs)

JAKARTA - Various leading indicators in early 2022 indicate good prospects for the Indonesian economy in the future. The continuous increase in the consumer confidence index (IKK) is a sign of the restoration of public confidence in carrying out economic activities that continues to increase.

In line with this prospect, the Government has targeted the Indonesian economy to grow by 5.2% YoY in 2022. In terms of economic policy, the PEN Program will also be continued in 2022 and is directed to provide direct support to the community through job creation and social protection. .

At the same time, the PEN Program will also stimulate the performance of MSMEs and Cooperatives through business incentives and financial support.

This year's PEN Program budget allocation of Rp455.62 T will be pushed for front-loading in early 2022. This policy is expected to encourage the sustainability of economic recovery in Quarter I-2022.

Various incentives have been continued, including Fiscal Incentives for PPN DTP for Housing, PPnBM DTP for 4-Wheel Motorized Vehicles, Expansion of the BT-PKLWN Program and KUR Interest Subsidies. Other incentive supports will also be issued soon as part of the PEN Program to stimulate economic activity in 2022. It is hoped that the spirit of accelerating economic recovery will spread to all parties, including academics.

"We need to maintain and improve this momentum of economic recovery together so that we can increase employment and people's welfare, as well as to grow high and get out of the Middle Income Trap in the medium to long term. Structural reform is the key, especially in improving the quality of human resources and economic transformation. towards a sustainable economy,” said Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto when delivering a keynote speech at the Public Lecture entitled 'Strategies for Accelerating the Development of Digitalization and Entrepreneurship in Students' at Raden Fatah State Islamic University Palembang, Saturday 5 March.

Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs

Improving the quality of human resources can be done to encourage entrepreneurial activity. The young generation of high quality will have an important role as Game Changers so that they can encourage entrepreneurial activity and accelerate job creation.

By 2030, Indonesia is estimated to need as many as 9 million digital talents. Digital skills development is estimated to contribute IDR 4,434 trillion to GDP in 2030 or equivalent to 16 percent.

"This will be a great opportunity for the Indonesian economy if it can be put to good use. The use of this digital talent will also act as an accelerator for entrepreneurship," explained Coordinating Minister Airlangga in a statement to the editorial desk.

Currently, the Government has facilitated the development of incubator institutions in various cities in Indonesia. The government has also established a rating system for incubator institutions conducted by a team of assessors based on an appointment by the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs.

The government also provides support for digital talent development through the National Digital Literacy Movement, Digital Talent Scholarship, and the Digital Leadership Academy. These three programs will help develop digital skills from basic to advanced levels. In addition, the government also continues to encourage the digitization of MSMEs so that they can increase MSME productivity.

Financial support for entrepreneurs and MSMEs has also been provided through the KUR program. The KUR segmentation which has been divided into super micro, micro, and small KUR can be used for students who want to build their business from an early age.

The super micro KUR criteria that do not have a minimum time limit for business establishment will make it easier for students as new entrepreneurs to obtain financing under Rp. 10 million. The granting of KUR to new entrepreneurs aims to help novice entrepreneurs to develop their businesses at an early stage and it is hoped that their financing needs can "grade up" as the business develops.

Throughout 2021, KUR financing has been distributed in the amount of Rp. 280.17 trillion and given to 7.38 million debtors. This KUR financing will continue to be carried out in 2022. As of the end of February 2022, KUR financing has been disbursed amounting to Rp 55.06 trillion to 1.26 million debtors.

Acceleration in improving the quality of human resources and economic transformation requires coordination and synergy with all parties, including universities.

"I hope there will be unicorns from Palembang, especially from UIN Raden Fatah because universities can increase their role not only as places of learning, but also as an introduction for students or graduates who want to be entrepreneurs," concluded Coordinating Minister Airlangga.

Also attending the Public Lecture at UIN Raden Fatah Palembang were the Minister of Industry, Members of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Deputy for Macroeconomic and Financial Coordination at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, Deputy for Food and Agribusiness Coordination at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, UIN Chancellor Raden Fatah Palembang, as well as lecturers and students. .