President Opens Musrembangnas, RKP 2022 Still Underway Economic Recovery And Structural Reform

President Jokowi (Photo: Lukas - Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) opened the 2021 National Development Planning Conference (Musrembangnas) in the framework of preparing the 2022 Government Work Plan (RKP) which was held at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta.

The Government's Work Plan for 2022 still carries the theme 'Economic Recovery and Structural Reform'.

Musrembangnas was also attended by Vice President M'aruf Amin, Heads of State Institutions, Ministers and Heads of Non-Ministerial Institutions, Governors, Regents and Mayors throughout Indonesia.

On this occasion, Jokowi conveyed that he reminded three things related to national development planning. First, national development planning must be adjusted to the changes and challenges of the times, especially in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"What has not changed is the main objective, namely to prosper the people, to advance the nation. But the way often has to change because challenges and opportunities can change at any time, "said President Jokowi.

Second, Jokowi reminded the importance of the synergy of the nation's strength to solve the problems faced today. Starting from health problems, economics, disciplined health protocols, testing, tressing and treatment of the spread of covid-19 and vaccinations.

"It requires support from all components of the nation, it takes activeness from all levels of government from the center to the regions. Likewise, the productivity of small to large industries to produce medical devices and medicines as well as support from other countries is also very much needed, "he concluded.

In addition, thirdly, Jokowi emphasized the importance of using cutting-edge science and technology, including in government services, education services and retail business.

"It can't be offline (outside the network), we have to change quickly using online instruments, online instruments (in network). When we need fast data, accurate data, integrated data. What we need is digital technology. When we need medicine, we need vaccines, we need medical equipment, what we need for speed is technology, ”explained the President.

According to Jokowi, currently world competition is getting tighter, so speed, accuracy and efficiency are important foundations for us to compete. Planners must consider the development of science and technology as the foundation.

"We have to get the maximum benefit from technological developments and in the very fast development of technology, especially since the 5 G digital connectivity will be started. Be careful not only as users. We should not only be smart digital users, but we must be able to print smart digital specialists, print reliable technologists who are able to compete competitively, and must develop smart digital prenuers who develop entrepreneurship and create domestic jobs, "asked the President.

President Jokowi explained that in all sectors, they are now starting to switch to technology, starting from companies that have created fintech, then the health sector with health tech and education with edu tech.

"These are fast developments that planning must anticipate, must be responsive to the disruptions that make the world change so rapidly. It must be responsive to challenges and opportunities that arise quickly which we often do not expect, it must be responsive to developments in science and technology, "he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of National Development Planning Suharso Monoarfa in his report regarding the national development plan said that currently Indonesia is still facing the toughest and most difficult challenges since the 1998-1999 Asian financial crisis, namely the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Almost all countries around the world are devoting their energy and resources to overcome the pandemic outbreak and trying to recover from the slump caused by the pandemic," he said.

Suharso said that Indonesia had succeeded in reaching a middle income country in 2016 and by 2036 it was targeted to leave the middle income country. But in reality, the year 2020 faces a pandemic, it will automatically affect the RPJM 2020-2024 which is the government's vision.

"We assume that at that time, without a pandemic, Indonesia is expected to be able to get out of the middle income country in 2036 if the economy can grow at an average of 3.7% per year and GDP per capita growth of around 5%," he said.

According to him, the pandemic since last year has implications for public health and has also broadly disrupted development performance both at the regional and national levels. The economic contraction experienced by Indonesia in 2020 has a risk for the Indonesian economy to re-enter the lower middle income category.

"Therefore, we need to work hard, work smartly and immediately make adjustments in our development plans, including redesigning the transformation strategy," he said.

Therefore, he continued, Bapenas had prepared a major strategy in the design of Indonesia's post-Covid economic transformation using sustainable development goals as the main instrument.

"These six strategies are a game changer towards advanced Indonesia before 2045. Currently, Bappenas is finalizing a road map plan for Indonesia's economic transformation which is expected to be completed in the near future," said Suharso.