Expanding financial access for the community will help improve the national economyJakarta (ANTARA) - The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has said that the observation of October this year as Financial Inclusion Month is aimed at expanding people’s financial access to improve welfare and encourage national development.
“Expanding financial access for the community will help improve the national economy,” a member of the board of commissioners for consumer education and protection at OJK, Friderica Widyasari Dewi, said at a press conference on the “Policy Direction for Strengthening Financial Inclusion,” which was accessed from here on Friday.
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She further said that the initiative is aimed at increasing public awareness and understanding of financial products and services, and it is meant to serve as a campaign to promote a culture of saving in many sectors of the financial services industry.
It is also aimed at encouraging the opening of accounts and the use of financial products and services, as well as promoting financial literacy and inclusion programs, and consumer protection.
"Through easy access to finance, people have the opportunity to make more optimal use of financial products and services, such as to save, support business activities, invest, and protect their assets or lives," Dewi remarked.
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She listed some programs in the 2022 Financial Inclusion Month series, which range from discounts, cashback, points, bonuses, or rewards on financial products and services; the provision of credit or financing to the community and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through business matching; and exhibitions of financial products and services.
They also include educational programs such as webinars, “bank goes to school or campus,” consulting clinics, outreach programs, campaigns and publications for financial literacy and inclusion programs, and consumer protection.
As the highlight of the activity, the OJK will host a Financial Expo (FinEXPO) on October 26 to 30, 2022 at Mall Central Park, West Jakarta, which will feature exhibitions of financial products and services and MSMEs, business matching, education on finance, and campaigns for financial literacy and inclusion.
Every October since 2016, the OJK has observed the Financial Inclusion Month in an integrated, massive, and sustainable manner to pursue the target of 90 percent financial inclusion by 2024, as well as to support the National Economic Recovery Program.
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Translator: M Heriyanto, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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