Bank Indonesia organized Explore Babel 2024 to support the National Movement Proud of Indonesian Products (GBBl), Proud of Indonesian Tourism Movement (GBWl), Indonesian Creative Works (KKl), and Digital Economy and Finance Festival (FEKDl). This annual event by Bank Indonesia's Bangka Belitung Province enhances tourism, MSMEs, and culinary arts while accelerating the digital economy ecosystem. The theme, "BESAOH: Realizing the Serumpun Sebalai Nation," emphasizes synergy and cooperation for a sustainable, transformative, and advanced Bangka Belitung Province. The event was inaugurated by Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahudin Uno and Bank Indonesia Deputy Governor Filianingsih Hendarta. Filianingsih highlighted Bangka Belitung's unique tourism appeal and the significant growth of non-cash transactions, particularly QRIS, which saw a 100.22% year-on-year increase in March 2024, supported by 153,459 QRIS merchants and 184,449 QRIS users. She emphasized efforts to accelerate digital and MSME growth through Explore Babel 2024, symbolizing optimism and economic growth in the region. Explore Babel 2024 aims to boost tourism and the creative economy, positioning MSMEs as the economic backbone, supported by economic and financial digitalization.
The event featured several ceremonies, including financing for MSMEs, issuing Government Credit Cards (KKPD), and QRIS Dinamis for local tax payments. These initiatives represent collaboration between Bank Indonesia, local government, and banks within the Regional Digitalization Acceleration and Expansion Team (TP2DD) to promote Electronic Transactions for Local Government (ETPD). Additionally, Bank Indonesia awarded scholarships to Bangka Belitung University and the Syaikh Abdurrahman Siddik Bangka Belitung State Islamic Institute, reinforcing its commitment to improving higher education participation and the human development index in the province. Explore Babel 2024 includes various activities, such as 101 Workshop Series with 43 sessions attended by 783 participants, covering social media monetization, cooperative strengthening, barista training, tourism hospitality, chili processing, financial system training, IPR socialization, QRIS onboarding for MSMEs, digital farming training, entrepreneurship seminars, chocolate processing, and MSME onboarding by Bank Indonesia.
