Chairul Tanjung Says That The COVID-19 Pandemic Is A Dark Hallway For The Business World

Chairul Tanjung conglomerate. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The conglomerate Chairul Tanjung shared tips on survival for businessmen in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. The owner of the Trans Corp media company explained that first, always maintaining optimism, the second, being able to seize the smallest opportunity, and third, creating opportunities.

Chairul Tanjung in the Webinar "Quality Journalism: Strengthening the Professional Sustainability of Journalists and Press Publishing to Nourish Democracy in the Midst of Digital Disruption" related to the National Press Day (HPN), Sunday 7 February, likened the current condition to walking in a dark alley and still looking for look for at the end because there is no certainty when the COVID-19 pandemic will end.

"Some say that the pandemic will end in two years, four years, or 10 years. At this point, we do not know when it will end", said the man who is familiarly called CT, quoted from Antara, Monday, February 8.

Therefore, said the ninth richest tycoon in Indonesia, the main trick for businessmen is to always maintain optimism. By maintaining this optimism, according to him, in the future, we will be able to see the slightest opportunities.

"It is the nature that every crisis will reduce the chances. Now, this is related to the second method, no matter how small the opportunity is, it must be caught", said the former Coordinating Minister for the Economy replacing Hatta Rajasa from 19 May 2014 to 20 October 2014.

If the pandemic conditions increasingly covering up business gaps, including in the world of mass media, then the third tip is to create business opportunities.

"If there is no opportunity, what should be done? Then create business opportunities. This is the principle if you want to be an entrepreneur", said the man who was born in Jakarta, June 16, 1962.

The father of Putri Tanjung admits that it is indeed easier to say than done. However, starting with optimism, he believes everything can be done. He also stated that each region and the media have different challenges and opportunities.

"And in theory, there is no such thing, for example, facing a challenge must start with step A or B. Every challenge must have a solution. So, a solution to a challenge must be sought that is tailored to the characteristics of the region and the respective media", said CT.

CT gave an example, the opportunity that is currently open is that digital TV products with only a few cameras that cost around IDR 5 million can do promising business.

Whereas in the past it needed funds of up to hundreds of billions of rupiah but now it is easy to take advantage of digital channels such as YouTube.

"As I mentioned in the beginning, life is like a doughnut. People who are optimistic will get the bread, although maybe a little, but the pessimistic can only get the holes", he said.