Airlangga: The Economy Has Started To Recover, The JCI And The Rupiah Are Back To What They Were Before The Pandemic

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto. (Photo: Doc. BNPB)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto acknowledged that in 2021, Indonesia would still face many challenges. Moreover, there is no certainty when the COVID-19 pandemic will end both globally and internationally.

However, said Airlangga, it was not only full of challenges, next year there were also opportunities for national economic recovery. This is based on signals of recovery that have occurred in various countries including Indonesia.

"On the economic side, I am sure that 2021 will be full of opportunities and challenges. The year of national and global economic recovery," he said, during a discussion on Maintaining the Momentum for National Economic Recovery virtually, in Jakarta, Thursday, December 17.

The former Minister of Industry said this said the Indonesian economy had passed its lowest point in the third quarter and contracted minus 3.49 percent. According to him, this is something to be grateful for. Because according to him, this growth was better than other countries such as Germany, Singapore, the Philippines and Mexico, which contracted by more than 4 percent.

Meanwhile, he said, from the external side, the trade balance surplus and current account surplus in November 2020 reflected the sector's resilience and optimism regarding the prospects for the national economy. In fact, from the financial sector, which is marked by improving market sentiment.

"Indications of national economic growth also come from the financial sector, market sentiment is improving and we see the JCI surged above 6,000 and the rupiah returned to Rp. 14,100. Both returned to their pre-COVID-19 conditions or until the government sees this as a fairly positive recovery in capital market, "he said.

The government, said Airlangga, continued to maintain a balance between handling the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery to maintain the momentum of economic recovery. Meanwhile, in terms of health, the government continues to make efforts to procure vaccines.

"So of course this can increase public confidence so that the public can re-spend or increase the national economy," he said.