...let's take advantage of the Gernas BBI and BBWI programs to improve our local economy...Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan expects 1.4 billion domestic tourist visits in 2023, or twice the achievement in 2022, through the Proud of Indonesian Tourism (BBWI) Program.
"As the number of visits to an area increases, it is expected that the demand for local products or services will also increase,” he added, according to a press release issued on Friday.
He made the statement while attending the launch of the Proud of Indonesia-Made Products National Movement (Gernas BBI) and BBWI programs in Serang city, Banten province.
He said he hoped that the programs will generate a revenue of Rp3,281 trillion, or equivalent to 18 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).
Furthermore, the minister lauded the acting governor of Banten, Al Muktabar, and his ranks, for holding the launch of Gernas BBI and BBWI, in collaboration with the Transportation Ministry.
“Banten has many leading tourism destinations. (I suggest that the Banten provincial government) create a travel package to make these destinations more attractive. Banten has the potential to optimize its local wisdom to attract Jakarta residents (to visit the area)," he remarked.
One of the annual events encouraged by the Gernas BBI Program is National Online Shopping Day, which helped the sales of local products to reach Rp10 trillion in the 2018–2022 period, he added.
"Hence, to all regional heads, let's take advantage of the Gernas BBI and BBWI programs to improve our local economy by improving tourism destinations and their environment, increasing local creative products, and encouraging various (tourism) activities," Pandjaitan stated.
Furthermore, he appealed to all stakeholders to optimize spending on domestic products.
The total commitment for spending on domestic products by ministries, governmental institutions, local governments, and state-owned enterprises has reached Rp1,001 trillion, with a realization of Rp762.75 trillion (76.2 percent), as of December 31, 2022, he noted.
"This achievement far exceeded the target set by the President (Joko Widodo) of Rp400 trillion. While the number of products displayed on e-catalogues has reached 2,493,151 products or 249 percent of the target of 1 million products in 2022," the coordinating minister informed.
He also noted that as of the end of December 2022, the total number of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs); small and medium industries (IKMs); as well as artisans entering the digital ecosystem has been recorded at 21.4 million.
“We still have to reach the target of 30 million (MSMEs, IKMs, and artisans) by 2024," he said.
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Translator: Sella Gareta, Uyu Liman
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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