Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The government will disburse productive assistance to micro, small and medium enterprises (UMKM), in which micro-entrepreneurs will receive cash assistance worth Rp 2.4 million. Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani said that Covid-19 was different from the monetary crisis faced in 1997 – 1998.
Where at the time of the monetary crisis the affected were large banks, small banks, and also large companies that went bankrupt. During the crisis in 2008 – 2009, turmoil occurred in the money market related to the exchange rate.
“Because this is a virus that hits people, people can’t get out, small stalls that usually sell tegal stalls, meatball vendors, satay vendors, can’t sell because markets can’t open,” said Sri Mulyani in a virtual Tokopedia discussion, Monday (17 / 8/2020).
Entering the fall of small businesses, the government moved to provide assistance to MSMEs. “They need assistance, that’s why we spend productive presidential assistance of Rp 2.4 million fresh money, hopefully it can become their new capital. We identify 9-12 million (micro enterprises).”
In addition, those who get loans are relaxed, where the interest is borne by the government. The beneficiaries of this relaxation are as many as 40 – 50 million MSMEs, including cooperatives. In addition, taxes for MSMEs are also exempt because currently the turnover of MSMEs is dropping.
“The government thinks they pay a tax of 0.5% of turnover, now there is no turnover, yes, you don’t need to be taxed. So all of them are freed by the government,” he explained.
He said the government was trying to provide a lot of support to MSMEs so that they could survive. The problem now is that with the presence of Covid-19, consumption has become weaker, so the government is trying to increase consumption.
The government’s effort to increase consumption is through social assistance, so that they can buy products from MSMEs. “So, yesterday in April, the crisis of PPE, masks, now all SMEs are making masks, hand sanitizers, and it is hoped that these products can be absorbed by the public,” he said.
Mutual Aid Key
Sri Mulyani explained that in the face of the corona (Covid-19) pandemic, Indonesia has a large capital which is called the spirit of mutual cooperation. According to him, during this pandemic period, many people helped each other by providing the best possible assistance.
“People put (foodstuffs) on the fence, please take as needed instant noodles and other necessities,” he said.
In a difficult situation like the present, the spirit of mutual cooperation which has become Indonesian culture is increasingly visible. The culture of mutual cooperation that is owned by the Indonesian nation even resonates overseas.
During the 12 years he has lived abroad, according to him, every time he meets foreigners and knows he comes from Indonesia, they will call Indonesians good people. According to him, our social society is harmony.
“Young people crowdfunding, it is always there, they know that in their respective families they do not live to be themselves. The majority of our people are good people, I consider social capital, “he explained.
The social capital owned by Indonesians was even conveyed by President Soekarno, which he called the spirit of mutual cooperation in his political speeches. This spirit has emerged since the birth of the Republic of Indonesia.
“Capital of society, we have a duty to continue to maintain, maintain, and nurture, that’s the price priceless, “he said.
(Hi Hi)
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