"After the government agreed on 12 synergy programs to encourage innovation and increase electronic transactions, BI has focused on the two sectors to boost electronic transactions," Assistant Manager of Regional Payment Electronification Function in BI's South Sulawesi Payment System Operation, Maudy Halim, remarked in Makassar on Monday.
Halim emphasized that the electronic system is deemed as being more efficient and capable at enhancing the effectiveness of public services and supporting financial transparency in the government.
Halim cited a survey result indicating that the extent of use of electronic or non-cash transactions is directly proportional to the level of financial transparency in the government, and it will also curtail the level of corruption in a country.
She pointed out that high cash transactions tended to result in high levels of corruption due to low financial transparency.
She further expounded that in 2019, electronic transactions will continue to be increased in 2019 in accordance with the government's program to promote financial inclusion that is targeted to reach 75 percent through the application of some prepared strategies.
In addition to the transportation sector, the social assistance sector is also a platform to boost electronic transactions, such as through implementation of the 2016 non-cash social assistance program in the form of the Family Hope Program (PKH) and non-cash food assistance program (BPNT), earlier known as Rastra or prosperous rice.
According to the BI data, 198 district heads and 65 cities from 33 provinces in Indonesia already have in place some regulations linked to the local governments' electronic transactions. Non-cash transactions are believed to be able to boost the local generated income by up to 11.1 percent.
Electronic transactions have grown significantly in South Sulawesi, especially in Makassar City, which has already applied electronic transaction systems, such as E-Budgeting and E-Parking. EDITED BY INE
Translator: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Editor: Eliswan Azly
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
