Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stressed that he would travel to various regions of Indonesia to provide social assistance so that people’s purchasing power is maintained amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
This was stated by Jokowi when talking with the media crew at the Merdeka Palace, the Presidential Palace complex, Jakarta. “I want to turn to all cities for this matter,” said Jokowi, Monday (07/13/2020).
Jokowi stressed the importance of social assistance being received by the right party. According to him, social assistance in the form of working capital could be one of the driving forces of the people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Like productive social assistance earlier, for working capital assistance as long as it is right on target. First is to raise people’s purchasing power and help working capital again,” he said.
Previously, Jokowi had handed over Rp. 2.4 million in working capital assistance to 60 micro small business operators (MSEs). Later, this assistance will be given to 12 million MSE entrepreneurs.
The working capital distributed by Jokowi is sourced from the president’s aid budget allocation. The budget in this post still comes from the allocation of the State Budget (APBN).
“I am very happy to be able to meet with ladies and gentlemen. There are businesses in the market, street vendors, hawkers there ?,” Jokowi said when greeting traders in the central courtyard of the Merdeka Palace.
“There is a turnover that has fallen by 50%, correct? There is usually a profit of 200 to only 50, huh? I know, I know,” Jokowi continued.
Jokowi said that this assistance was given to business people whose income was eroded during the Covid-19 pandemic. Especially, for the middle to lower business actors who were devastated by the plague.
“Not only the small ones hit, but also medium and large businesses were affected. So this afternoon I provided working capital assistance,” he said.
Jokowi stressed that this assistance will be provided on an ongoing basis. It is planned that this mode of assistance will be given to around 12 million MSE actors spread across various regions of Indonesia.
