Handling the Covid-19 Pandemic for Indonesia's Economic Recovery - Editorial Global Busines guide Indonesia
Indonesian President, Joko Widodo reminded again his ministers to remain focused on managing and maintaining a balance between coping with health and economic recovery. This was conveyed during a briefing at the Plenary Cabinet Session at the State Palace in Jakarta, Monday (2/11). Indeep, he has conveyed this to his aides many times.
Two focuses are presented: addressing health and economic recovery. In handling health, especially handling the Covid-19 pandemic, Indonesia is still struggling to reduce the number of active cases. As of November 1, 2020, Indonesia's active cases of Covid-19 were 13.78 percent, the world average of active cases was 25.22 percent. President Joko Widodo also instructed that active cases should be continuously suppressed and minimized.
President Joko Widodo's request is certainly very appropriate, considering that several countries in Europe are currently facing a second wave of Covid-19 attacks. The increase in cases was drastic. Indonesia must not be complacent and must increase its control so that active cases can be continuously suppressed, as well as to suppress the emergence of possible second wave.
The second focus emphasized by President Joko Widodo is economic recovery. As experienced by other countries, Indonesia is also struggling to increase economic growth. In the second quarter, Indonesia's economic growth was at minus 5.32%. Although it was still minus in the third quarter, the minus was only 3 percent. It is expected that it will continue to rise in the fourth quarter. President Joko Widodo warned that the fourth quarter is very important to improve. The hope can go into the positive. Thereby, President Joko Widodo asked for state and government spending to be implemented at the beginning of the year. Thus, the increase in the fourth quarter does not fall at the beginning of the year.
All stakeholders must take immediate and appropriate steps. The real action of all parties to jointly fight the Covid-19 pandemic, to reduce its spread and to break the chain of its spread must be increased. Hopefully, vaccinations can also be carried out according to schedule. Because of this, all related stakeholders and the public have to contribute greatly to the economic recovery and economic growth of Indonesia.