Jokowi Happy Public Consumption And Exports Increase Amid The COVID-19 Pandemic

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) claims that the economy in Indonesia is getting better even though the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The figures that are routinely reported to him every morning show that people's ability to consume is moving towards a better direction and this makes him happy.

"I am pleased that the numbers have gone up. Consumption has increased," said Jokowi during the launch of the economic recovery program at the State Palace, Thursday, July 23.

The increase in consumption capacity in the community, he said, was due to the circulation of money in the community through various social assistance such as village cash transfers, cash social assistance, food social assistance which affected household purchasing power and consumption.

Apart from being happy with the increase in people's consumption capacity, the former Governor of DKI Jakarta admitted that he was happy because he saw that export activity had now increased compared to last May and June.

"This is also good. We should not miss these moments. Cooperatives are the same, I want the indicators I said earlier to be followed by cooperative movements as quickly as possible," he said.

Furthermore, Jokowi said that cooperatives should provide encouragement to business actors, especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

He even said that to boost the economy, the Ministry of Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, is preparing a Revolving Fund Management Institution (LPDB) of Rp1 trillion.

"Immediately give it to good cooperatives so that the cooperative is also given to members as soon as possible. We only have time for this in July, August, September," said Jokowi.

"If we can leverage this, the fourth quarter will be easier, and next year it will be easier," he concluded.