Menko Airlangga Invites Academics To Handle COVID-19 And Restore The Economy

Minister of Economy Airlangga Hatarto (Photo:Antara)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto invited academics to contribute in handling the COVID-19 pandemic and national economic recovery.

Minister of Airlangga Hartarto said that in line with the commemoration of the National Awakening Day on May 20, academics need to exemplify the fighting spirit of predecessors to realize an independent nation, free from colonialism.

"Not to forget, hopefully we can also be independent from the COVID-19 pandemic and create an independent economy," said Menko Airlangga in a webinar organized by UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, reported by Antara, Saturday, May 22.

Airlangga said that universities and alumni groups become intellectual communities that are expected to always contribute in preparing professionals in a wide spectrum of expertise, especially in driving national economic progress.

The government always needs cooperation from the community, especially from the academic world, to ensure all policies and strategies taken in maintaining the momentum of economic recovery and handling of COVID-19.

"In the midst of the pandemic, the government continued the five president's directives. One of them successfully completed the Copyright Work Law as a form of regulatory reform in the field of ease of business that is praised by other countries and a number of international institutions," said Airlangga.

He said the daily trend of COVID-19 cases nationwide continues to decline and the percentage of active cases and recovery is better than globally. Indonesia's economy is also predicted to rebound in 2021 with projected growth of 4.5-5.3 percent in 2021 and 5.4 percent to 6 percent in 2022.

"The projected recovery is seen from various key indicators that continue to improve, such as the Manufacturing PMI which is at the expansion level or 54.6 as well as the Consumer Confidence Index (CPI), retail sales and motor vehicles that continue to increase; as well as the trade balance that continues to record a surplus in line with rising commodity prices," said Airlangga.

He added that the regulation in the Copyright Act and its derivatives is also expected to be a factor in boosting the economy in the medium and long term.

"These reforms will encourage the creation of more efficient, easy, and transparent government services. The business licensing process will be conducted in a new system of Online Single Submission (OSS) which is planned to be fully operational in July 2021," he said.

In addition, to encourage investment, the Copyright Act and its derivatives Presidential Regulation No. 10 of 2021 regulate the Investment Priority List. With the removal of various regulatory and investment barriers, it is expected to help attract investors, generate new businesses, create jobs, and help Indonesia realize its dream of becoming a developed country.