Jokowi Targets Economy To Grow 7 Percent In The Second Quarter, DPR: The Requirement Must Focus On Controlling COVID-19

President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. (Photo: Doc. Press)

JAKARTA - The government targets Indonesia's economic growth in the second quarter of 2021 to reach 7 percent. Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) recorded indonesia is still in recession in the first quarter of 2021 with a contraction of minus 0.74 percent. Therefore, the House of Representatives reminded that achieving the target must be supported by the government's performance, especially in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad mentioned that despite the global economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he insisted indonesia's economic recovery was 'on the track' and continued to improve.

"Of course we all expect, in the second quarter our economy rebounds and grows positively. So that Indonesia can get out of the abyss of recession. However, is it in the second quarter that our economic growth rate reaches 7 percent or not? Of course it depends on the performance of the government and several other factors," he said, in Jakarta, Monday, May 17.

Therefore, the Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives in charge of economy and finance urged the government to remain vigilant and focus on controlling COVID-19 and maintaining economic recovery momentum.

"In an effort to pursue economic growth, it is important for the government to remain vigilant and focus on controlling the virus and maintaining economic recovery momentum, by increasing domestic investment, maintaining market optimism and optimally absorbing the state budget," he said.

Not only that, Dasco also reminded the government to optimize budget absorption in the National Economic Recovery (PEN) program in 2021 in order to protect the public from the threat of COVID-19.

"Both (threats) in aspects of health and safety, social life and economic difficulties experienced by the community," he said.

Finally, Dasco also asked the local government in the second quarter of 2021 to immediately realize its spending.

"In order to be a stimulus in economic recovery and increase the purchasing power of the people," he said.