Quick Response To Jokowi's Request, BI Will Launch Government Credit Cards After Eid

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Finance)

JAKARTA Bank Indonesia (BI) stated that the readiness to launch the Government Credit Card has entered the final stage and will be launched in the near future.

BI Governor Perry Warjiyo said that the release of the country's new transaction instruments will be carried out in two stages. First, is the soft launching which will be held in April. Second, is the grand launching in May after the Eid al-Fitr momentum is complete.

"This is in accordance with the instructions of the President and the Government Credit Card will be launched soon," he said when he told reporters in Jakarta, quoted by the editor on Friday, March 17.

According to Perry, the use of Government Credit Cards is quite important because it can include large transactions.

"We are committed to providing fast, easy, cheap, and safe services," he said.

On the same occasion, Deputy Governor of BI Doni Joewono ensured that the Government Credit Card would use the domestic channel of the National Payment Gate aka GPN.

"We do not use the Mastercard or Visa payment channel. Then this year the Government Credit Card will also be in the form of a physical card," he said.

For information, the Government Credit Card is a follow-up to Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 2 of 2022, which was originally carried out through the Interconnection Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS).

This regulation targets the acceleration of the use of domestic products and products of micro-enterprises, small businesses, and cooperatives in order to make the national movement proud to be made in Indonesia successful in the implementation of the procurement of government goods/services.

Previously, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reminded local governments, ministries or institutions, and Regional Owned Enterprises (BUMD) to use domestically made Government Credit Cards (KKP). This is for the purchase of goods and services.

"Then also, the use of local government credit cards. The era is in a digital era like this, all of these should be able to use it," said Jokowi some time ago at the opening of the P3DN Business Matching, quoted by the presidential set, Friday, March 17.

He said, if you can use the KKP consistently, then Indonesia can truly be independent. This reflects the US sanctions against Russia.

The US sanctions were at the time when Mastercard and Visa officially stopped transactions in the country some time ago. This is the result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"Be careful, we remember sanctions from the United States to Russia, Visa and Mastercard are a problem," he said.