Jakarta, 17 January 2022 -- The innovative concept of Smart City is increasingly being sought after by local governments in overcoming various problems while improving the quality of life of the community, as well as strengthening public services so that they are getting better. Moreover, this concept is more effective in developing urban areas whose people need dynamic and fast-paced mobility in order to accelerate regional economic performance.
PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero), Tbk (BNI) is committed to continuing to develop banking services that are integrated with information technology in city and district governance in Indonesia.
This is in line with the direction of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) regarding the establishment of the Task Force for the Acceleration and Expansion of Regional Digitization (Satgas P2DD) with the aim of accelerating the implementation of transaction electronification in regional governments (ETPD) and to increase transparency of transactions and governance, as well as integrating systems regional financial management.
There are 6 (six) main concepts in Smart City, namely: Smart People, Smart Governance, Smart Infrastructure, Smart Environment, Smart Economy and Smart Society.
This time, BNI held the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Use of Banking Service Facilities and Smart City Program Support between the West Sumatra Provincial Government.
This collaboration covers the areas of Padang City Government, Padang Panjang City Government, Bukittinggi City Government, Payakumbuh City Government, Sawahlunto City Government, and Agam Regency Government.
As for, the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation Agreement covers the establishment of smart city ecosystem, digital transaction payments, financing for micro, small and medium enterprises as well as waste Bank management in the targeted areas of the 6 local governments. This is a concrete step for BNI in supporting the Smart City implementation.
The signing was attended by the Governor of West Sumatra, Mahyeldi Ansharullah, the Deputy Governor of West Sumatra, Audy Joinaldy along with the ranks and BNI’s Network and Services Director, Ronny Venir along with the ranks and the mayors and regents involved in the Signing event, Monday (17/1/2022).
Ronny Venir conveyed that the Smart City concept has become one of the hot discussions in various international forums such as the G20 Digital Sector Forum in August 2021. The Smart City concept has also begun to be noticed by investors, which can be seen from President Jokowi's success in securing investment commitments from several countries including the G42 agreement.
He continued that West Sumatra is also a province with very strong people's economic potential. It is believed that the formed economic ecosystem will be even stronger and accelerated with the Smart City Program.
"We really appreciate all the support from the West Sumatra Regional Government. Of course this Smart City program will really help accelerate performance as well as economic equality for the people in West Sumatra," said Ronny.
Furthermore, Ronny conveyed that BNI's Smart City program was not only focused on developing Ecosystems in the destination Regency/City. BNI also supports the Regency/City digitization program where the solutions BNI can provide for City and Regency governments such as Regional Payment/Shopping solutions such as Corporate Internet Banking or BNIDirect, Online SP2D, and Virtual Account Debit).
This program also includes acceptance solution services (e-PBB, e-PDAM, e-PAD, e-Samsat, and e-Retribution), and KUR distribution and BNI Market Place management which assists city/district governments in promoting regional tourism and MSME products and market them online and Go International through the Xpora program.
"BNI’s Smart City program also provides electronic money ecosystems such as BNI Tapcash and QRIS for the community and local governments to increase cashless transactions or a cashless society. We also provide market digitization ecosystems and waste banks," he said.
Ronny said that in the early stages of this collaboration, it would be realized through market digitization ecosystem in Pasar Raya Padang, traditional wagon/delman transportation modes in West Sumatra, and waste Bank.
"By maximizing QRIS transactions on traditional Bendi transportation so as to create non-cash transactions and improve people's welfare. In addition, the achievements achieved will be appreciated by the World Record Museum or MURI as the First Digital Payment System for Bendi," he added.