Unimus, Semarang (December 14, 2017) Faculty of Economics, Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang (FE of Unimus) in cooperation with the Parliament of Central Java Province has just held a talkshow entitled “Pertumbuhan Ekonomi Untuk Siapa (The Economic Growth, for Who?)” in the campus hall of Unimus. The talkshow was opened by Dr. Sri Darmawati, M.Si., the Vice Rector of Unimus for Academic. 3 experts were invited. They were Dr. Hardiwinoto, M.Si. (Dean of the FE of Unimus), Endi Fais Efendi, the Division Head of Economy at Central Java Province Regional Development Planning Agency (BAPPEDA Jateng), and M. Chamim Irfani (member of Commission B of the Regional People’s Repesentative Council of Central Java Province).
Revealed by M.Chamim Irfani, “the economic growth of Indonesia in 2017 has been high, reaching the nationwide average rate, which is 5.06%. It is quite high, considering that that in many other countries, especially developed countries, it decreases, approximately 3%. Even specifically in Central Java Province, the growth is up to 5.13%, higher that the national average. However, the poverty rate in the province is approximately 13% or still higher than the national average rate, which is around 10%.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Hardiwinoto stated “nowadays, there is an anomaly in the economy of Indonesia. I agree that the economic growth of Central Java Province is above the national growth. However, let’s take a look closer, nationally, the growth is stagnant, from 5.02% in 2016 to 5.06% this year.”
Moreover, Dr. Hardiwinoto admitted that “the national economic growth is indeed high compared to that of developed countries. But, the inflation rate has also been high in Indonesia in the past few years, around 4%. Due to the high inflation, the real national economic growth is just 1%. On the other side, investments expected to support the regional economy growth is still prefering the national economy. For instance, there are some foreign investments but many of those are still using foreign workers, so many national workforce becomes unemployed due to the investments. Tighter and more real regulations are thus needed deal with foreign investments so that the economic growth really belongs and is for the Indonesian people.
On that occasion, Endi Fais Efendi explained that the economic growth of Central Java Province (5.13%) was a milestone for the province, above the national rate, 5.06%. The province’s export growth has also increased, in spite of the increased import. The development is focused on infrastructure in order to make the distribution of goods and services run more smoothly and can read all areas so that activating the economy.
150 participants, consisting of students, lecturers, journalists, and guests, attended the event, from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. The event was closed with Q & A session and singing a song “Kulihat Ibu Pertiwi (I Saw the Motherland)”. Broadcasted live on several radio stations in Central Java Province, it is hoped that the event can open the public discourse on economy so that finally is encouraged to participate in the economic enhancement. The event has been a part of Unimus’ contributions to develop the Central Java’s economy.
Reported by the Technical Unit of Public Relations and Protocol
