"Economic growth is important, but inflation control is also vital. I am glad every year our awareness on the need to control inflation continues to grow," the president said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo has called on every district and city to set up a team to monitor and help control inflation in the regions.
"Several districts and cities have not yet had a TPID (inflation control team), and so, they have to immediately set up one. It is very important. The police, prosecutors office, and branches of Bank Indonesia are present there," Widodo noted while opening a national coordination meeting of the TPID here on Thursday.
The president said the high growth will not benefit the economy if the inflation rate is higher as there will be a loss.
"Economic growth is important, but inflation control is also vital. I am glad every year our awareness on the need to control inflation continues to grow," he emphasized.
The president revealed that he monitored the economic figures and inflation rate every morning.
"Every morning, I always keep track of their figures," he remarked.
The president called on the regional leaders to help control inflation to meet the target set at around 3.5 percent this year and later below two percent.
"If you, the governors, district heads, and city mayors could do it, it can be achieved. If we can curb inflation to below two percent and the economy continues to grow at a five percent rate, the publics purchasing power will increase. This is our big task ahead," he affirmed.
Bank Indonesia Governor Agus Martowardojo stated that 90 percent of the regions in the country have had TPID covering 34 provinces and 455 districts and cities out of the total of 514 districts and cities. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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