UNS — The Center for Science and Technology of Higher Education (Pusat Unggulan Iptek Perguruan Tinggi – PUI PT) Center for Fintech and Banking UNS (UNS Fintech Center) held an online general lecture on “The Global and Indonesia Economic Development” through Zoom Cloud Meeting on Wednesday (4/11/2020). The online general lecture invited Dr. Halim Alamsyah, MA who currently serve as Senior Advisor of the Minister of Finance Indonesia in the field of Finance and Sharia Finance.
The event was opened by the Rector of UNS, Prof. Dr. Jamal Wiwoho, M.Hum and attended by Vice-Rector for Partnership and Planning Affairs, Prof. Dr.rer.nat Sajidan and the Chief of PUI PT Center for Fintech and Banking, Irwan Trinugroho, Ph.D. In his opening remark, Prof. Jamal hopes that this agenda can be beneficial for all participants; the faculty members, students of UNS and other universities, and other participants, by sharing the current economic condition under the influence of Covid-19 pandemic and other issues that affect the stability of the global economic condition.
In his presentation, Dr. Halim Alamsyah, MA. shared several points of discussion, the latest global and domestic economic performance, policy responses and challenges in the future. “Indonesia and the global economy have never got this severe experience,” Dr. Halim, former Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation in 2015 – 2020, explained. Further, Dr. Halim stated that Covid-19 pandemic took place in the world economic slowdown and add into the world economic recession. This is marked by the decline in production, demand and export-import in all affected countries which leads to the decline in investment, the increase in layoffs, loss of income and decrease in community consumption which led to a sharp economic contraction.
However, Dr. Halim added, after the economic contraction in the 2nd quarter of 2020, Indonesia economy started to grow back despite slowly. This is marked by some improvements in the indicators of consumption and production, especially online sales and export recovery, even though it is not evenly distributed. This phase is predicted to last until the 3rd quarter of 2021. Dr. Halim continued with the policies taken by the government and the authorities as the efforts to control Covid-19 pandemic. “By promoting economic recovery (PEN) especially in vulnerable groups, and by maintaining financial system stability (SSK),” Dr. Halim added. According to Dr. Halim, the government has allocated IDR 695 trillion funds for Covid-19 handling and economic recovery (PEN) and another IDR 589 trillion to restore order.
At the end of his material, Dr. Halim stated that the challenges for Indonesia in the future is promoting economic growth while maintaining inclusiveness. This can be implemented through PEN program for private sectors and income transfer program for vulnerable groups or low-income groups as well as restoring the priority sectors to generate income. “MSMEs become the priority sectors in the economic recovery including promoting and involving them in the digitalization to improve their competitiveness,” Dr. Halim continued. The general lecture lasted for two hours and was joined by 250 participants. Enthusiasm was shown by the number of questions asked to the speaker. Humas UNS
Reporter: Dwi Hastuti
