OPINION

Based on the 2024 Global Risk Report survey by the World Economic Forum of 1500 economists worldwide, it was found that in the next two years, the highest economic risks will be inflation, economic decline and fewer job opportunities. Prabowo’s administration promises high economic growth, 7-8% per year, from the third or fourth year of his administration. This breakthrough will accurately address Indonesia’s economic challenges mentioned by the World Economic Forum.

Several institutions have anticipated a downturn in 2023 economic growth. For instance, the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) calculated that Indonesia’s output would expand by approximately 4.9 percent in 2023. The OECD set a similar figure. Although the actual growth rate was around 5.05 percent, the 2023 economic growth was still significantly below its potential.

Haikou is the capital of Hainan Province, an island off southern China with a tropical climate, but otherwise like most islands. When I arrived here at the end of March, the weather was similar to that of Bekasi or Jakarta: hot and sunny. I asked my friend who welcomed me at the hotel where I stayed if Haikou, and Hainan as a whole, experienced winter. Of course, the response was “yes.” However, unlike other parts of China, where winter is marked by snowfall, Hainan only experiences moderately low temperatures, approximately 10–15 degrees Celsius. For those who are used to temperatures ranging from 30-34 degrees Celsius, this is enough to make us shiver. 

March 19 is celebrated as World Social Work Day. This year’s commemoration raised the theme “Buen Vivir: Shared Future for Transformative Change”, which is rooted in the global agenda. It emphasizes the need for the social work profession to adopt innovative and community-based approaches, based on indigenous wisdom and harmonious coexistence with nature. 

Indonesia’s fuel consumption continues to rise every year. In the last decade, it has increased from around 1.1 million barrels per day to 1.5 million barrels per day. 

Every Eid al-Fitr homecoming journey begins and ends with safety in mind. As a once-a-year national event, the country should provide the best possible service to its citizens. According to a survey conducted by the Transportation Policy Agency of the Ministry of Transportation, the 2024 Eid al-Fitr potential national mobilization will include 71.7 percent of Indonesia’s population, or 193.6 million people. This represents around a 56 percent increase above the anticipated mobility figure over last year’s number. In 2023, 123.8 million people were estimated to mobilize from their residency, while in 2022 it was still 85.5 million. 

Several days ago, I was interviewed by Rosianna Silalahi from Kompas Television, discussing my four new books recently published by Kompas Gramedia Publisher. The first, “My Story as a teacher and educator”, written in English, as I lectured in the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. The second, “Pasang Surut Kehidupan” a biodata in Indonesian, the third “Pondering Issues in a World full of Risks and Uncertainties”, a collection of 31 columns written in English, and the last one, “Tantangan dan Peluang Pembangunan Nasional”, a collection of 25 columns written in Indonesian.

There seems to be a competition going on for good cause between the US FED Jerome Powell and his colleagues, and Christian Laggard of the ECB, with her colleagues across the Atlantic. This time the ECB seems to be a little ahead in the game of controlling inflation, and the Board members have started talking about programs to cut interest rates. Meanwhile, Jerome Powell still feels the need to make an official statement that the fight against inflation looks promising. This is certainly the good news that everyone likes to hear and keep healthy. 

On March 22 2024, activity for the Promotion of Indonesia’s Best Experience in the field of Sign Language Literacy was carried out online for the first time, at the forum of the Islamic Cooperation Organization/OIC Subsidiary Body, namely, the Islamic University for Technology/IUT which is headquartered in the City of Ghaziabad-Dhaka-Bangladesh. This online promotional activity was attended by a number of students taking Engineering study programs at undergraduate and graduate levels, attended by at least 89 participants coming from a number of OIC countries: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Bangladesh. 

“Prabowo-Gibran: “We will fix what needs to be fixed. We will enforce what needs to be enforced, and we are determined to eradicate corruption at its roots.” 

Debates about the State Budget (APBN) always arise at the time national leadership changes. In 2014, discussions regarding cuts in fuel subsidies and infrastructure budgets emerged when President Jokowi began his first term as President. However, in the last decade, regardless of the many ups and downs, Indonesia has admirably survived 2014-2024, despite various challenges.