The Government Is Optimistic That The 2021 Economic Recovery Can Be Achieved, Even Though It Is Not Easy

JAKARTA - Head of the Fiscal Policy Agency (BKF) of the Ministry of Finance, Febrio Nathan Kacaribu, said that the government has provided a number of strategies to accelerate economic recovery in 2021.

"Our economic resilience shows positive things. These signs can be seen from improvements in the third and fourth quarters of 2020, although there are still challenges, ”he said in a webinar, Tuesday, January 26.

Febrio added that this optimism was also built with export figures increasing until the end of 2020.

"The government's projections and beliefs are in line with the predictions of various international financial institutions, such as the IMF, World Bank and ADB," he said.

However, the belief in economic recovery this year cannot be separated from the fundamental aspects of the health sector. According to Febrio, the implementation of the vaccination program, which has been started by the government, is the key to economic improvement.

"After this vaccination, the thing to remember is how to maintain health protocols. Why is it important? Because if we are negligent, the impact will be social restrictions that make it difficult for economic activity to move," he explained.

Furthermore, the Head of BKF also ensured that the government would continue its policy of providing social assistance (bansos) to the community.

"Social protection programs are very effective in helping people through difficult times, especially the lower middle segment. In contrast to the upper middle class society who can actually help move the economy by using the money they have. But they prefer to deposit their money in the bank," he concluded.