Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani said Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, the United Nations Secretary General`s Special Advocate (UNSGSA) for Inclusive Finance for Development, was expecting more systematic and programmed financial inclusion across regions in Indonesia.

"Queen Maxima strongly supports the financial inclusion program in Indonesia and hopes that as a large country, Indonesia can implement the financial inclusion program more systematically to ensure social assistance is distributed based on `by name by address` scheme, through adequate access and better distribution," Maharani told reporters after a meeting with Queen Maxima, Jakarta, Tuesday.

Maharani received Maxima and her delegation at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture.

During the meeting, Maharani conveyed the Indonesian government`s efforts and achievements to promote inclusive finance for all communities in the country. To that end, Maxima appreciated Indonesia`s efforts and lauded the country`s progress in implementing the financial inclusion program.

"Of course, she (Maxima) appreciates what Indonesia has done for its inclusive finance, and expects that the inclusive finance program in Indonesia will be larger and simpler in future," Maharani stated.

She also explained that Indonesia had issued Smart Indonesia Card (KIP) to 19.7 million schoolchildren at the elementary, junior high school, senior high school and vocational school levels. The beneficiaries received non-cash assistance for education through state-owned banks (Himbara).

The Himbara comprised PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk, PT Bank Indonesia Tbk (BNI), PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, and PT Bank Tabungan Negara (Persero) Tbk.

She also elaborated on the non-cash aid distribution under the Family Hope Program (PKH) and stated the program`s recipients would be increased from six million to 10 million beneficiary families (KPM) in 2018.

Under the program, each beneficiary receives Rp1,890,000 each year through the banks.

Moreover, a total of 1.2 million KPMs received non-cash food assistance (BPNT), amounting to?Rp110,000 per month, to buy rice and eggs from electronic-stalls (e-Warong) through an electronic account mechanism.

(T.M052/A/KR-BSR/B003)

Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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