BPS: City's Economy Rises, Poverty Rate Decreases

The Statistics Center (BPS) has forecast the Jakarta economic growth rate in the era of Jakarta Acting Governor, Heru Budi Hartono, had increased.

This is a good precedent

Jakarta BPS Acting Head, Dwi Paramita Dewi stated Jakarta's economy in the first quarter of 2023 grew 4.95 percent (y-on-y).

Jakarta's economy grew by 3.43 percent and unemployment decreased by 13,000 people in the period September 2022 to March 2023.

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"From the expenditure side, the three components with the highest growth were Consumption Expenditures for Non-Profit Institutions Serving Households (PKLNPRT) by 7.95 percent, Household Consumption Expenditure (PKRT) by 4.18 percent, and Government Consumption Expenditures (PKP) by 1 .19 percent," she expressed, Tuesday (7/18).

She went on to say that there was positive growth in almost all business fields in Jakarta. The sector with the highest growth was transportation and warehousing sector by 17.43 percent, followed by Other Services by 13.16 percent and Accommodation and Provisions of Meals and Drinks by 8.27 percent.

He explained the growth in the Other Services sector and Provision of Accommodation and Food and Drink was due to increased activity in entertainment and tourism.

"The booming of visitors to recreation sites and entertainment events in Jakarta such as music concerts in early 2023 has an impact on increasing the number of foreign tourist visits and the occupancy rate of hotels in Jakarta, as well as eating and drinking activities in restaurants," she explained.

On the other side, the poverty rate in March 2023 was 4.44 percentage points, down at 0.09 percentage points compared to March 2020 by 4.53 percentage points. When compared to September 2022, the poverty rate is currently down by 0.17 percentage point.

"This is a good precedent in the midst of various poverty alleviation efforts being carried out by the Provincial Government of Jakarta," he added.

As for the number of poor people in March 2023 was 477.830, down at 17,100 compared to September 2022. When compared to the start of Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, the number had decreased by 3,030.

"This achievement is inseparable from the government's efforts in poverty alleviation. One of them is to boost ncome, especially in the poor community groups," she added.

She assessed various government assistance programs that have also been disbursed since Covid-19 pandemic have proven to keep vulnerable groups of the poor from falling into poverty while preventing the emergence of new poor groups.

She admitted the impact of Covid-19 on Jakarta's poverty rate had begun to be under control. Even a small increase in income has been able to increase people's purchasing power and reduce the potential for poverty.

Not only that, the Cash Assistance Program launched by Central Government includes Basic Food/Non-Cash Food Assistance Program (BPNT), Family Hope Program (PKH), and Cash Social Assistance (BST). Meanwhile, the poverty alleviation programmed by the Jakarta Government includes BST, Jakarta Smart Card (KJP), Jakarta Healthy Card (KJS), and Jakarta Elderly Card (KLJ).

While the provision of various assistance in kind, providing incentives for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and exemption from renting low-cost apartment (rusunawa) as reflected in the results of the March 2023 Susenas from both the central and regional governments (80.15 percent ) has proven to be effective in maintaining the purchasing power and consumption of the people in society.

"This reduces the risk of increasing the number of poor people," he stated.