Luhut Invites GP Ansor To Support COVID-19 Handling For National Economic Recovery

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. (Photo: Kemenko Marves)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan who is also Deputy Chair of the COVID-19 Handling Committee and National Economic Recovery (KPC-PEN) invited GP Ansor of East Java (Jatim) to support national economic recovery in handling COVID-19.

In a virtual discussion entitled "Maintaining Peace for the National Economy Recovery", Monday, February 8, Coordinating Minister Luhut asked GP Ansor of East Java to help health protocols campaign in every religious activity and organization.

"I ask GP Ansor to be able to help campaign for health protocols to the public, both in every religious activity or organization, and also help identify cases in the community and provide a place for self-quarantine or isolation," said Coordinating Minister Luhut as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, February 9.

The government is currently focusing on handling COVID-19 in eight provinces, namely DKI Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, South Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, North Sumatra and Bali.

The strategies implemented include behavior change and early detection of the spread of COVID-19, construction of quarantine and isolation centers, and COVID-19 treatment management which will focus on the eight provinces with the most cases.

"In the last seven days, the value of positive numbers and the value of patients recovering from COVID-19 has been balanced. However, various strategies are still needed to continue suppressing the growth of positive numbers," added Coordinating Minister Luhut.

Coordinating Minister Luhut assessed that the economic picture in 2021 will show improvement, based on the handling of COVID-19, the availability of fiscal stimulus, the implementation of the Job Creation Law that can facilitate investment, as well as policies for the development of a value added industry in Indonesia.

The application of the Job Creation Law, he said, would help facilitate community business licensing. The facilities that will be obtained by the community in the Micro and Small Enterprises (UMK) sector are single licensing, provision of legal assistance and protection services, as well as online registration mechanisms that can reduce the potential for corruption.

"These various facilities are provided by the government, so that all community businesses can develop evenly," he added.

The ease of opening UMK for the community was also welcomed by the Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa. The Provincial Government (Pemprov) of East Java will take advantage of this facility to develop the economy in the region.

"Through this facility, the East Java Regional Government will encourage people to develop the economy through a creative economy format or cultivating land that can be used for growing coffee and cocoa," said Khofifah.

The chairman of GP Ansor, East Java, Syafiq Syauqi also welcomed the ease of business facilitated by the government in the Job Creation Law.

"GP Ansor of East Java is currently developing creative economy businesses for our members, in the culinary, fashion, and cinematographic fields," he said.