After Inaugurating The Market, Jokowi Distributes Basic Necessities And Money To Street Vendors In Ngawi

President Jokowi (Photo: BPMI Setpres)

JAKARTA - After inaugurating the Ngawi Big Market, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) handed over assistance to hundreds of street vendors (PKL) who used to sell around Merdeka Square in this area. This was done after Friday prayers at the Baiturrahman Great Mosque.

The assistance handed over by the President was in the form of food packages and cash, which were greeted with gratitude and joy by the traders. They are happy because the cash assistance can be used to increase selling capital which has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic so far.

"Alhamdulillah. Happy to receive gifts and money from the President. We can make additional capital," said a local street vendor, Sri Rismawati, Friday, December 17, as reported by Antara.

The President's working visit to Ngawi applies strict health protocols. Traders who received assistance and members of the press who covered have undergone a PCR swab test.

The Ngawi Big Market has indeed been completed. This market has the concept of a modern market based on green buildings. With a building area of 15,940 square meters, it has 291 kiosks, 244 booths, and 20 dry booths.

"We hope that this market can become a center of trading activity in Ngawi Regency and should also be a lever for the economic movement of people in Ngawi and its surroundings to accelerate the process of economic recovery after this pandemic," said Jokowi.