Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA News) - East Java Governor Soekarwo believes that the assets of Bank Jatim (East Java bank) will reach more than Rp100 trillion, as a result of providing financing to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sectors.

"Judging from the progress of Bank Jatim, to date, it is not impossible that assets above Rp100 trillion can be achieved faster than 2022. One of the efforts is to reach out to MSMEs to make Bank Jatim one of the sources of financing," he said at `Jalan Sehat`, while celebrating the 57 Year Old Bank Jatim in Lenmarc Field, Surabaya, on Saturday.

He said the reason for MSMEs should be embraced by banks, especially Bank Jatim, as its numbers increase each year.

"In 2006 a census was carried out, and the number of MSMEs reached 4.2 million, then increased in 2012 to 6.8 million. Furthermore, the 2016 census increased again to 9.59 million MSMEs in East Java," he said.

Soekarwo, who is called Pakde Karwo, said that the existence of many MSMEs also played a role in East Java`s gross domestic product (GDP), which increased every year.

"In 2012, UMKM contributed only 54.98 percent, and currently it has risen to 57.2 percent of GRDP. Therefore, by looking at the achievements in 2017, there is an opportunity to finance MSMEs through potential credit," he said.

He further explained that there were some Rp1,161 Trillion waiting for landing loans from banks, which from that number, "landing" loans provided by banks remained around Rp52 Trillion.

"There is still much to do, and Bank Jatim must make this its golden opportunity," he said.

With such opportunities, he proposed three things. Namely, Bank Jatim must improve human resources (HR), use information technology (IT) and increase financial professionalism to increase credit.

"This must be done because the market conditions are very good, and Bank Jatim is very quick to adapt, so in 2022 the assets of Bank Jatim will be more than Rp100 trillion," he said.

He added, if the three proposals could be accomplished, East Java`s growth would not be 5.5 percent, but 6 percent. In addition, East Java became the backbone of the Indonesian economy because 14.92 percent of the national economy was contributed by East Java.

"I also support the existence of the one director-one innovation concept, with the aim that there are many innovations in the banking sector within Bank Jatim," he said.

Also present was the Managing Director of Bank Jatim, Soeroso, Chairman of the East Java Dekranasda, Nina Soekarwo, and the East Java Regional Secretary, Jumadi.



Reporting by by Indra Setiawan
Editing by Elisawan Azly, Bustanuddin

Reporter: antara
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
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