REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) held a meeting with the leaders of Indonesian commercial banks at the State Palace here on Thursday.

The president, along with Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, and Head of the Financial Service Authority Wimboh Santoso, met the leaders of commercial banks at 9 a.m. local time.

On the occasion, President Jokowi pointed to the growth in the national banking credit, which had only reached 8.24 percent, below the target set in last year's meeting.

"It is disappointing when we had targeted nine to 12 percent, but the credit growth was only 8.24 percent, and this needs to be brought to the notice of the head of OJK," he remarked.

The head of state satirized the national banking system for playing safe and not taking risks due to which the credit growth only stood at 8.24 percent.

"Although banks should be 'prudent,' which means be careful, they ought to take a big risk," he stated.

Businesses will slowly face bankruptcy if big risks are not taken, according to the head of state. Furthermore, taking a risk is similar to a big decision usually taken by the president. 

President Jokowi also said playing safe in the face of tight global competition and rapidly changing technological developments is an illusion.

"I just want to emphasize that there is no playing safe in the digital era in which the world changes dynamically and the technology develops faster," he explained.

He said the policy of "wait and watch" not longer held relevance owing to uncertainty in businesses: finance, banking, and politics.

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