This was expressed by the Acting Governor of North Sumatra, Hassanudin in the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) of Digital Transformation Strategies to Control Inflation, in the Raja Inal Siregar Hall, Office of the Governor of North Sumatra, Friday (2/2).
Based on data from the East Ventures-Digital Competitiveness Index (EV-DCI) in 2023, North Sumatra's digital competitiveness increased 5.7 points (43.9) compared to 2022 (38.2).
This increase in numbers brought North Sumatra up in ranking from 13th position to 10th position.
"There are 9 pillars that are measured, North Sumatra's significant changes are in regulations and regional government capacity, an increase of 17.1 points
"after we succeeded in digitizing several public services, such as paying taxes, issuing permits, MSMEs and others," said Hassanudin.
The former Military Commander I of Bukit Barisan explained that significant increases also occurred in the fields of entrepreneurship and productivity,
after North Sumatra held a digital fast track program for 1,000 MSMEs.
Apart from that, Hassanudin said that North Sumatra is also implementing digitalization in the agricultural sector,
where agricultural commodities such as chilies, shallots, rice and others are often the cause of increasing inflation.
"From many studies, financial digitalization has a significant relationship with inflation,
"Therefore, we are concerned about this, looking at our inflation trend where the agricultural sector plays a large role in inflation, digital intervention in the agricultural sector is very necessary," explained Hassanudin.
According to Hassanudin, these efforts will have a significant impact on controlling North Sumatra's inflation by the end of 2023.
North Sumatra's inflation in November 2023 was 3.20% (yoy), higher than national (2.86%) and in December it decreased to 2.25% (yoy), lower than national (2.61%).
"We also intervene directly, such as during the rice price fluctuations in North Sumatra yesterday, but with digitalization we also have data that can be used as a consideration for making policies," said Hassanudin.
Meanwhile, the Acting Governor of Lemhanas, Laksdya TNI Maman Firmansyah, said that the North Sumatra Provincial Government had carried out a good digital transformation.
He suggested that the North Sumatra Provincial Government improve connectivity within the region and to other regions.