WahanaNews.co | In order to protect the interests of consumers in ASEAN countries, the ASEAN Consumer Protection Institutions established the Asean Consumers Forum, following the significant increase in Indonesia's digital economy, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Indonesia's digital economy grew 49 percent from 47 billion US dollars in 2020 to 70 billion US dollars in 2021. This figure is predicted to continue to increase and will reach 146 billion US dollars by 2025. The value is the highest when compared to other countries in ASEAN.
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"This is certainly the highest value or volume compared to other ASEAN countries," Sri Mulyani said at the 2022 IFG International Conference in Jakarta, some time ago.
Sri Mulyani believes that this fast-growing digital transformation will have a broad impact on the economy, government, and the wider community.
"If you look at the rapid implementation of digital technology in Indonesia, the financial services industry opens up huge opportunities, accompanied by an urgency to strengthen consumer supervision and protection," said Sri Mulyani.
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Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that in 2021, the value of Indonesia's digital trade reached Rp 401 trillion.
This was achieved in line with the increasing acceptance and preference for online shopping and supported by the expansion of the digital payment system and the acceleration of digital banking.
"Indonesia is also the most popular digital investment destination in Southeast Asia or represents 40 percent of digitalization in Southeast Asia, supported by efforts to improve a conducive business climate," said Airlangga during the 2022 Indonesian Digital Financial Economy Festival (FEKDI) in Bali.
Airlangga predicts that in 2025, Indonesia's digital economy potential is estimated to reach around IDR 2,050 trillion, then in 2030 it is projected to increase to IDR 4,531 trillion.
This also has an impact on the importance of consumer protection. Moreover, Indonesia has already passed the Draft Law (RUU) on the ASEAN Agreement on Electronic Commerce (AAEC) into law.
With the ratification of the bill, trade through Indonesia's electronic system (PMSE), which from the start has been running fast in the country, is further expanded to the ASEAN level.
Chairman of the Presidium of the Alliance for the National Electricity Consumer Protection Agency (Alperklinas) Tohom Purba, appreciated the establishment of this regional forum.
"The establishment of this forum takes into account equality and partnership, so that it becomes a strong foundation for achieving community groups who are aware of their rights as consumers," he said, Saturday (17/9).
Tohom hopes that people do not become victims due to poor service, especially now that transactions between Asean countries are getting easier with the availability of digital services, so that consumer protection on a regional scale is really needed. [JP]
