Erick Thohir Affirms Resurrection Can Start From The Pandemic That Hit

Minister of SOEs, Erick Thohir. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of SOEs)

JAKARTA - Efforts to revive the nation's economy, which had been hit by the pandemic storm, really have to start from the regions so that the new foundation of this country's economy will be stronger. According to Erick Thohir, every region in all corners of the archipelago must unite in the same vision to build a road map and a map of growing regional potential, so the revival that is expected to be realized will not take long.

This is the hope of all parties, including, for example, SOE Minister Erick Tohir when closing the Autonomy Expo 2021 Association of District Governments (Apkasi) at the Pre Function of the Jakarta Convention Center Convention Center on October 22, 2021.

For this noble goal, Erick stated that he was ready to work with the regents to revive the regional economy.

Everyone is aware that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is indeed very heavy because it destroys the joints of life, not only health problems, but also economic problems. actually created a very worrying gap. Where COVID-19 makes the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, the big get bigger and the small ones get smaller.

The Expo 2021 application was attended by participants from various districts throughout Indonesia. (Ist Photo)

But all must continue to believe that it is MSMEs and the people's economy that must be revived.

To help revive the economy, Erick really hopes that the regions will make road maps and then map out the industrial potential of their respective regions.

Therefore, he invites regional leaders to begin to really realize the road map or roadmap going forward, especially because of the pandemic, there are industries that are lost and growing.

According to Erick Thohir, as reported by Antara, if regional policy makers do not map the strengths of each region, it can harm regional industries that do not grow.

Healthy Indonesia

The way SOEs emerge from the pandemic can be a source of inspiration for the regions. So far, SOEs are consolidating with one mission, namely efforts to pursue a number of achievements, first, Indonesia is Healthy because like it or not, health threats will continue to occur.

The similarity in the regions is how regional heads can ensure that hospitals and puskesmas become the backbone of community health service centers.

SOE Minister Erick Tohir at the closing of the 2021 Expo Autonomy Approval. (Photo Antara)

The second is Indonesia Works, which focuses on creating job opportunities, especially to anticipate those affected by COVID-19. Third, Indonesia is growing, namely through digital technology, where e-commerce has recorded good growth with this condition that it must be able to lift local MSMEs, not vice versa, instead of flooding imported goods.

Then encourage the food and beverage industry and other industries through the use of applications. The strategy is how local content grows and local industries can also develop.

Erick Tohir also specifically invited the regents to start thinking about a road map like the one currently being carried out by the Ministry of SOEs through Healthy Indonesia, Indonesia Works, and Indonesia Grows in their respective places.

Because only by working together, the Central Government, Regional Government and the younger generation, and all the people of Indonesia, this nation will continue to grow, will continue to grow, because this nation should be independent and sovereign towards shared glory.

Erick advised the regents who are members of the Apkasi organization to continue to develop their regions and develop targeted promotion facilities according to the roadmap of each region.

His party is open to working with the regents through programs that can be adjusted together related to investments and strategies.

discussion forum

The implementation of the Autonomy Expo 2021 application is actually a real reflection of the magnitude of the commitment of the regents to gather and unite the vision of building from their regions to rise from the pandemic together.

Apkasi Executive Director Sarman Simanjorang who is also the Chairperson of the Apkasi Autonomy Expo 2021 Committee said the organization of this year's event was lively even in the midst of a pandemic with as many as 85 participants, consisting of 75 Regency Governments, 4 Ministries, 2 Provincial Governments, 1 BUMN, and 8 private sectors.

The event was in the form of an exhibition of potential regional superior products with 140 booths or huts and was attended by 8,000 visitors consisting of the general public from the general public, investors, and from related agencies.

In the three days of implementation, an Executive Dialogue was also held which featured speakers including Deputy Minister of Trade Jery Sambuaga, from the Ministry, LKPP, and BUMN. This dialogue is expected to be able to accelerate the recovery for the regional economy which is the responsibility of all parties.

The Expo is indeed trying to bring together all stakeholders (stakeholders), both central, regional policy makers, and business actors.

Sarman said that in the 2021 Expo Autonomy Application, various discussion forums and meetings were held to discuss solutions to revive the national and regional economy. This activity was attended by the Regency Government, investors, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI).

Continuing with the Business Matching forum which brings together buyers, investors, and regions, where the activity, which was held for the first time virtually, was attended by 25 district governments, from buyer investors there were 18 companies from KADIN, HIPMI, and others.

Another activity is the Procurement Network Application where this activity brings together private sector providers of goods and services within the scope of regional government with budget-using OPDs in order to create partnerships between local governments and entrepreneurs as providers of goods and services.

Even the Regional Autonomy Women's Election was held as a place to show understanding of regional autonomy and how the younger generation can carry out tasks to promote superior commodities, the investment climate, and tourism in the regions to a wider level. The event crowned Mega Diana Zamzam (Tanggamus-Lampung) as the 2021 Regional Autonomy Princess.

The activity was enlivened with the Apkasi Journalism Award as a form of appreciation for media personnel who have a high concern in disseminating information about development in the region through innovative works and encouraging constructive solutions for economic progress in the region.

The special journalist writing competition raised the theme "Regional Economic Awakening in Supporting National Development" with a number of categories including the Online Media Category which was won by 1st Place: Puji Purwanto (Suaramerdeka.com) with the title "Banyumas Integrated Services Stimulating Regional Investment Rates"; 2nd Place: Feri Purnama (Antaranews.com) with the title "Waiting for a Glimpse of Prosperity from Garut Tourism Village": and 3rd Place: Wisma Putra (Detik.com) with the title "Bandung Santri Stretches Awaken the Economy During a Pandemic".

From all these activities, everyone hopes that there will be an acceleration in efforts to recover the national economy through economic revival in the regions with more investment coming in and increasing economic transactions in the regions.

Rise

Meanwhile, the General Chair of Apkasi, Sutan Riska Tuanku Kingdom, hopes that this activity can immediately revive the regional and national economy.

Sutan said that according to President Jokowi's direction, through the 2021 Autonomy Expo application, the regional economy could rise. In the end, everyone has the choice to give their biggest role in creating a good investment climate in the region by, for example, providing certainty of licensing and ease of doing business.

This is because economic recovery in the regions cannot be separated from the role of all stakeholders, especially in the chain of economic cycles, including the private sector, BUMD, and BUMN. If this is done optimally, the expected revival will actually be realized from the edge of the Republic of Indonesia.