Eps.36 Part 4/4 | Bambang Brodjonegoro - Pengalaman 3 Kali Menjabat Sebagai Menteri

Summary

In this insightful conversation, Prof. Bambang Brodjonegoro discusses his journey through various pivotal roles in the Indonesian government, including Deputy Minister of Finance and Minister of Research and Technology. He highlights the importance of adapting to global economic shifts, such as sustainability and digital transformation. Emphasizing the role of the youth in achieving Indonesia's vision for 2045, he stresses entrepreneurship and innovation as key drivers for progress. The discussion reflects on strategic policies like tax amnesty and the removal of fuel subsidies, aiming to boost the nation's economic resilience and growth.

Takeaways

• 💰 The speaker discusses two strategies to manage budget inflation: increasing revenue (potentially through additional debt) or reallocating the existing budget.
• 🗳️ Political appointees play a role in the speaker's career, highlighting their appointment as Deputy Minister and later as Minister of Finance, emphasizing the influence of political decisions in such appointments.
• ⛽ During President Jokowi's early administration, there was a focus on reducing fuel subsidies, aligning with Vice President Jusuf Kalla's views that these subsidies were not effective and burdened the budget.
• 📈 The tax amnesty program was a significant milestone during the speaker's time as Finance Minister, aiming to increase tax revenue and improve fiscal capacity.
• 🌍 The speaker highlights the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a global framework that can guide national development strategies towards well-being and sustainability.
• 📊 The speaker emphasizes the multisectoral approach to addressing stunting in Indonesia, involving cross-sector collaboration beyond just health to tackle root causes like poor sanitation and clean water access.
• 🔬 As Minister of Research and Technology, the speaker focused on bridging academia and industry, facilitating the commercialization of research and innovation, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 💉 The development of the Red and White vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the potential of collaboration between academia, industry, and government in Indonesia.
• 🌐 The speaker encourages the younger generation to be adaptive, particularly in the areas of sustainability and digital transformation, emphasizing their role in achieving Indonesia's economic goals.
• 🚀 Entrepreneurship is highlighted as crucial for Indonesia's development, with the speaker urging the younger generation to become entrepreneurs who contribute to innovation and sustainability.

Q & A

What are the two main ways to handle budget increases according to the speaker?

The two main ways are to increase revenue, potentially through a combination of higher taxes and additional debt, or to reallocate the existing budget.

What position did the speaker hold before becoming the Vice Minister of Finance?

The speaker was the head of BKF (Fiscal Policy Agency) before becoming the Vice Minister of Finance.

Who suggested the speaker's name for the Vice Minister of Finance position?

Pak Hatib Basri, the Minister of Finance at the time, suggested the speaker's name, although the final appointment was made by President SBY.

What significant challenge did the speaker face when he became the Minister of Finance under President Jokowi?

The speaker faced the challenge of increasing tax revenue to meet the demands of President Jokowi's campaign promises, despite the initial budget pressures.

What was one of the early significant policy changes made by President Jokowi, as mentioned by the speaker?

One significant policy change was the removal of fuel subsidies in November, shortly after the speaker and President Jokowi took office.

What was the goal of the tax amnesty program introduced during the speaker's tenure as Minister of Finance?

The goal was to increase tax compliance by encouraging individuals to declare their previously unreported assets, despite some criticism that it forgave tax evaders.

How did international organizations like the World Bank and IMF react to the tax amnesty program?

The speaker noted that these organizations were initially skeptical or not supportive of the tax amnesty program.

What were the two major milestones achieved by the speaker at Bappenas?

The two major milestones were formulating the Vision 2045 for Indonesia and planning for the relocation of the nation's capital.

What strategy did Bappenas develop to address the issue of stunting?

Bappenas developed a multi-sectoral approach to address stunting, recognizing it as a problem beyond just health and involving aspects like clean water and sanitation.

What was the speaker's focus as Minister of Research and Technology?

The focus was on enhancing Indonesia's technological adaptation and innovation, emphasizing the need to move research from the prototype stage to industrial application, particularly through fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government (triple helix model).

How did the COVID-19 pandemic influence the speaker's work at the Ministry of Research and Technology?

The pandemic accelerated the need for innovation and collaboration, such as the development of the Red and White vaccine and improving the capacity for PCR testing.

What advice does the speaker offer to the younger generation for Indonesia's future development?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of being adaptive to global economic trends, particularly in sustainability and digital transformation, and encourages the younger generation to become entrepreneurs who can sustain and drive forward the nation's progress.