The AEI submitted the demands on September 9, calling for corrections in budget misallocation, deregulation of policies and licensing, and improvements in institutional quality.
"We want to hear directly, share what the government has done, and ensure the government is aware of the various issues being faced," DEN head Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said in a statement on Saturday.
During the meeting, Pandjaitan underscored that the government considers economists strategic partners in strengthening public policy.
He reiterated that deregulation remains a key focus to boost job creation and economic growth, including accelerating digitalization through the Online Single Submission (OSS) system.
Pandjaitan also noted that DEN has facilitated the relocation of several garment and footwear companies amid ongoing tariff negotiations with the United States — a move expected to generate more than 100,000 new jobs.
He further stressed the importance of improving spending efficiency and increasing state revenue through digitalization. One pilot project in the pipeline is the digitalization of social assistance distribution.
According to him, the initiative will enhance transparency and improve budget efficiency by ensuring aid is more accurately targeted and directly benefits the public.
"Your input is essential, to know whether we in the government are on the right track or not. I welcome feedback from all of you to serve as material for our discussions within the government," Pandjaitan told the economists.
On behalf of the AEI, Jahen F. Rezki expressed appreciation for the dialogue.
"This has been a productive discussion, and we hope the submitted demands will be taken into consideration in future policymaking. We also hope dialogues like this can be held regularly," he said.
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Translator: Imamatul Silfia, Kuntum Khaira
Editor: Anton Santoso
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