Launching Pertamina Grand Prix Of Indonesia, Erick Thohir Says Mandalika Will Be An Educational Area

SOE Minister, Erick Thohir together with the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi). (Photo: Instagram @erickthohir)

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir ensured that the Mandalika area would not only become a racing circuit but also a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) which would also provide benefits to the surrounding community, including in the field of education.

"Mandalika was built not only as a sports complex but also as an education hub. Later there will be hospitality, design, cooking, and technology education so that it can become an ecosystem," said Erick at the online press conference for the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia in Jakarta, Wednesday, February 9.

In addition, to encourage the economy of the community around the Mandalika Circuit, the government will also empower MSMEs.

President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero), Nicke Widyawati explained that this event will involve more than 80,000 MSMEs in the NTB area and its surroundings.

"Pertamina itself fosters around 80,000 MSMEs and also many MSMEs assisted by other SOEs. These MSMEs are not only from NTB, but they are also from areas around NTB," said Nicke.

For this event, continued Nicke, MSMEs have been prepared since last year, including curating the businesses that will be exhibited in this event.

Nicke also hopes that there will be a multiplier effect for the people in Mandalika, NTB, for MSMEs, for the nation in general, so that it can accelerate recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The theme that we carry for the Grand Prix of Indonesia is energy to dare to race, which means that we invite the whole community to immediately wake up and prepare themselves, and just like the riders in MotoGP, dare to go fast, race and be confident to beat all the challenges that exist, this is the spirit that we want to bring," concluded Nicke.