Pandemic hits Indonesia’s inclusive growth plan; poor to soar to 33 million

Residents wash near the Palembang River in South Sumatra, on Feb. 21. Projected slower economic growth caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to worsen Indonesia’s struggle to promote inclusive development in the country, according to a National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) official. -Antara/Nova Wahyudi

JAKARTA, May 14 (The Jakarta Post/ANN) - Projected slower economic growth caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to worsen Indonesia’s struggle to promote inclusive development in the country, according to a National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) official.

The government, with SMERU Research Institute, measures the inclusiveness of growth based on 21 indicators, such as employment opportunity, inequality, contribution of women’s income and poverty rate. The result is that the country’s score on the Inclusive Economic Development Index has been stagnating at 5.75, which actually qualifies as moderately satisfying, since 2017.