OJK Increases Financial Inclusion In Rural Areas

Rupiah illustration (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Financial Services Authority (OJK) continues to increase the financial inclusion of the community, especially in rural areas, to improve the welfare and independence of the village economy.

In the framework of the 2023 Financial Inclusion Month (BIK), the OJK Purwokerto Office together with the Regional Financial Access Acceleration Team (TPAKD) of Banyumas Regency held a Cultural Festival Financial Education activity in the Inclusive Financial Ecosystem Village (EKI) Pekunden Village, Banyumas, Central Java, Tuesday.

Chief Executive of the Supervision of Financing Institutions, Ventura Capital Companies, Micro Financial Institutions, and Other Financial Services Institutions OJK Agusman said Pekunden Village is a pilot project for the implementation of the Inclusive Financial Ecosystem Village Program (EKI). It is hoped that tourism potential and MSMEs can be developed to improve the welfare level of the surrounding community.

In addition, Agusman said the Financial Services Authority, Bank Indonesia, Regional Governments, Financial Services Industry and all other stakeholders could accelerate the economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and increase public literacy and inclusion, especially in Pekunden Village and its surroundings.

"We are optimistic, with the spirit of collaboration to find the best solution for the prosperity of the community," Agusman said in his official broadcast, Thursday, October 19.

Furthermore, Agusman said that the Financial Inclusion Month which was held every October since 2016 was carried out to support the Government in achieving the 90 percent financial inclusion target by 2024.

Based on the results of the 2022 National Literacy and Financial Inclusion Survey (SNLIK), the level of literacy and financial inclusion of rural communities is 48.43 percent and 82.69 percent or still below when compared to urban areas which reached 50.52 percent and 86.73 percent.

According to Agusman, this is one of the factors driving the implementation of the Inclusive Financial Ecosystem Village Cultural Festival, to expand the financial inclusion of the community, especially in rural areas and improve the welfare and independence of the village economy.

In addition, Agusman said that there would be optimization of the potential in rural areas, namely by providing non-financial education such as simple bookkeeping, waste management, digital marketing, and packaging.

Such as a series of activities including Financial Education on Fraudulent Investment Alert activities and Illegal Online Loans through the Sopsan Comedy Drama, Wayang Performance and the Pekunden Village Superior MSME exhibition and the opening of service booths for financial service institutions.

Agusman added that OJK and all stakeholders will massively contribute to continuously increasing financial access to the community and improving the welfare of the people in Indonesia, especially in rural areas.