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Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto. (ANTARA/HO-Kementerian Perekonomian/pri)

The Indonesian government has adjusted the budget for the health sector to Rp72.73 trillion as part of the economic recovery program in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, said.

“We have monitored the realization of the budget for the economic recovery and of course, we hope it can be used optimally for economic recovery through the adjustment to the additional budget from Rp87.5 trillion to Rp72.73 trillion,” he said following a meeting of the Committee for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The government has also made adjustments to its budget for social protection programs. It is mulling a plan to initiate new programs by taking advantage of the adjusted budget funds, the minister said.

"There have been shifts. We will continue to monitor them and propose new programs," he remarked.

He said the meeting also discussed the revision of the presidential regulation on the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines. "So (the revision of) the presidential regulation on the procurement of vaccines has been decided and we will soon submit it to Mr. President," he informed.

Earlier, the finance minister's expert staff for state spending, Kunta Wibawa Dasa Nugraha, had said the realization of budget funds in the health sector within the framework of economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic had reached 5.12 percent of the total budget amounting to Rp87.55 trillion, as of June 24, 2020.

The increase in the realization of the budget was the result of efforts made by the Finance Ministry and the Health Ministry to expedite the realization, he stated. (ANTARA)

Jakarta (VOI News) - Russian Ambassador to Indonesia, Lyudmila G. Vorobyova in Jakarta on Wednesday (26/8) expressed Russia's readiness to cooperate with Indonesia in a bid to overcome Covid-19. She explained that the Russian Direct Investment Fund has stated its readiness to cooperate with Indonesia in three directions. Ambassador Lyudmila said that firstly Russia is ready to cooperate in the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine if Russia has completed a clinical trial phase. Even Russia is also ready to provide a clinical trial facility for the vaccine in Indonesia. Moreover, she further said that Russia is also ready to produce some of the vaccine components needed domestically. She also remarked that the cooperation proposal has been submitted to the Indonesian government and Russia hopes to get a response sooner.

"Russian direct investment fund is ready to cooperate with Indonesia basically in three directions. First of all, is the sale and distribution of the vaccine when all the clinical trials are completed. We are also ready to have clinical trials in Indonesia. Of course, it will facilitate the registration of the vaccine in the country. And we are also ready to manufacture at least some of the components of the vaccine in Indonesia. So these are the proposals of the Russian direct investment fund and hopefully we will have the response from our Indonesian friends,”  said Ambassador Lyudmila.

Previously, Spokesperson of Russian Foreign Minister, Maria Zakharova in a press statement stated that the Coronavirus has brought about a negative impact on economic growth globally. This virus is also believed to have affected the daily lives of people. She also stated that the only way to effectively fight against this global challenge is through joint efforts of all international communities. (Ndy/Trans by AF)

Illustration - An aerial photo of the Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, East Java. ANTARA/HO-PT Pelindo III (Persero)/sh

Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati stressed on hard work to record zero-percent economic growth in the third quarter of 2020 after the GDP contracted 5.32 percent in the second quarter of the year.

"We are cautious of the heavy struggles that lie ahead to enter the zero-percent zone in the third quarter," Indrawati noted in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Some economic activities have run at a sluggish pace in July despite reversal in some sectors, she pointed out. "It can be observed from the tax payment activities," the minister remarked.

The processing industry experienced a contraction in July but at a lower rate from that in June and May.

"May recorded the deepest contraction. We are optimistic that this positive trend would continue, with an improvement in industrial activities," she added.

Improvement in the trade sector was recorded in July as compared to May during which a 40-percent contraction was recorded.

However, trade recovery in July was not as stable as expected.

"We are optimistic that July will be better than June, but in fact, it was not. This is something that we need to be cautious about in terms of trade. This will affect the recovery in public consumption," Indrawati stated.

Meanwhile, the financial services sector contracted 6.89 percent in July, from 11 percent and 30 percent in June and May respectively.

Inconsistent improvement was clocked in the construction, mining, transportation, and logistics sectors.

"This mapping has indicated that our economic recovery in July was still very fragile, and it can reverse again," she pointed out.

Hence, it is crucial to prevent Indonesia's economy from plunging into recession and to keep it in the neutral zone to recover.

"We will see if the trend in August can be maintained in the zone close to zero (percent). In this case, we still have to struggle to recover to the neutral zone," she stated. (ANTARA)

President to Aceh inaugurates the first toll road section and reviews the handling of COVID-19 (Bureau of Press of Presidential Secretariat)

President Joko Widodo inaugurated the first toll road in Aceh Province -- the Sigli-Banda Aceh Section 4 toll road -- that connects Indrapuri and Blang Bintang.

"The 74-kilometer Banda Aceh-Sigli toll road is the first in Aceh Province," President Widodo stated at the Blang Bintang toll gate, Aceh, on Tuesday.

The Sigli-Banda Aceh toll road section, also known as the Sibanceh section 4, is 13.5 kilometers long of the total length of 74.1 kilometers and is part of the Trans Sumatra Road.

"I would like to thank the governor and district heads. Land acquisition in Aceh Province is the fastest," the president noted.

The head of state also believes other provinces can emulate the method of land acquisition in Aceh.

"It is so fast. The construction can follow quickly. I think if the methods in Aceh can be applied in other provinces, all toll road construction can be completed," the president stated.

If the toll road is already operational, access to the airport will become easier and faster.

"If connectivity gets smoother and is linked to air transportation, what we will see in future is the faster movement of people and goods to make costs more efficient," the president explained.

Furthermore, with interconnected economic growth, the economy moves faster.

"We are optimistic that this new infrastructure would generate new economic points, give rise to new businesses, and lead to expansion of existing businesses. We are optimistic of raising the Aceh economy broadly, and, of course, the goal is to create several jobs," the president stated.

The head of state also advised Aceh Acting Governor Nova Iriansyah over connecting the toll road with the agricultural, tourism, and industrial centers.

"Thus, it will be truly beneficial to our people in Aceh, and we are upbeat about Aceh becoming the epicenter of new economic growth in Sumatra. Do not forget to involve micro, small, and medium enterprises," the president remarked.

In total, the Sigli-Banda Aceh toll road is divided into Section 1 extending along Padang Tiji to Seulimeum, spanning a distance of 24.3 kilometers; the 7.6-kilometer-long section 2 Seulimeum-Jantho; Section 3 Jantho-Indrapuri totaling 16 kilometers; Section 4 that stretches from Indrapuri to Blang Bintang for 13.5 kilometers; Section 5 Blang Bintang-Kuto Baro, with a length of 7.7 kilometers; and Section 6 Kuto Baro-Baitussalam that stretches for five kilometers.

Investment totaling Rp12.944 trillion will be required to develop the Sibanceh Toll Road. According to the official website of the Committee for the Acceleration of Priority Infrastructure or KPPIP, this funding scheme uses state-owned enterprises (BUMN) assignments.

Once operational, the Sibanceh Toll Road will be equipped with two rest areas and services (TIP) or type A rest area. The resting place is located at Jantho-Indrapuri KM 37 and Indrapuri - Blang Bintang KM 54.  (ANTARA)