Driving the Economy Continuously

The government has promised to boost programs to strengthen consumption, including the preemployment card program. However, industrial sectors that support the economy also need to be leveraged.

ANTARA/SIGID KURNIAWAN

Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto (second right) speaks with National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) chief Lt. Gen. Doni Monardo (left), State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir (second left) and Deputy SOEs Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin after a meeting with President Joko Widodo on Monday (20/7/2020) at the presidential palace compound in Jakarta. The President has signed a Government Regulation (PP) on the management of COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery that regulates the establishment of the COVID-19 Management and Economic Recovery Committee.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The government will seek to improve the existing National Economic Recovery program after the economy contracted 5.32 percent in the second quarter of 2020. It should also take advantage of opportunities in the industrial sector that are growing, while also addressing contracting sectors.

Erick Thohir, the chief executive of the COVID-19 Response and Economic Recovery Committee, said the government would provide a number of stimulus programs to help people spend more. In order for the distribution to be on target, he said, it would take time, accurate data and coordination with many parties.