Jokowi's Order: Cease Masks And Medical Devices Exports

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Twitter @jokowi)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo has asked for the export of masks and medical devices to stop during the spread of the corona virus or COVID-19 in Indonesia. He conveyed this during a limited meeting with the COVID-19 task force team.

"I ask that the need for medical equipment such as masks and hand sanitizers is made sure to be available. For the export of masks and medical devices, it is better to stop them first. Make sure the domestic stock is sufficient first," Jokowi said at the meeting at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday. , March 19.

Jokowi also requested that the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) for doctors and nurses be guaranteed. This is because the former governor of DKI Jakarta does not want doctors and nurses who are at the forefront of this virus control to be infected due to the unavailability of personal protective equipment.

"Including I also ask the Minister of Finance to also provide incentives for doctors, nurses, and hospital staff who are engaged in handling COVID-19."

President Joko Widodo

Masks have become a rare and expensive item in Indonesia since the beginning of the year after concerns about the corona virus emerged in the world. However, based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), there was an increase in mask exports in January and February.

One of the mask exporters is a state-owned company, namely PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia (Persero) or RNI. PT RNI produces and exports masks through its subsidiary, PT Rajawali Nusino and cooperates with PT Maesindo which has a factory in Yogyakarta with a production capacity of 10 million pieces.

PT RNI had exported 3 million pieces of masks to China to help tackle the corona. This mask has a high specification for surgical needs.

On Tuesday, March 3, President Joko Widodo emphasized that the domestic stock of masks is sufficient for the needs of the citizens. He said there were 50 million masks available.

"Later, the Minister will check, but from the information I received, there are approximately 50 million masks in the country," said President Jokowi at the Presidential Palace.

Jokowi even asked Bareskrim Polri to oversee the mask trade so that the price does not skyrocket in the market. The export of masks can only be done when domestic market conditions have stabilized.

The day after, Wednesday, March 4, Minister of Trade Agus Suparmanto said that businesses could still export masks.

"The government emphasizes that there is no ban on the export of masks," he said, in Jakarta, Wednesday, March 4.

On the same day, Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga said the government would not stop exporting masks yet. "We are optimistic that we will not stop exports to maintain the trade balance. That is in accordance with President Joko Widodo's direction," he said.

A few weeks later, the Special Staff of the Minister of BUMN Arya Sinulingga said, PT RNI had closed the export of masks since February. The export of masks was carried out by this company in January, and that was an export order last year. Since February, Arya confirmed, PT RNI was prohibited from exporting masks.

"In January we are still processing (ordering for export masks) for a long time, ordering a long time, and we have also stopped," said Arya in his statement, Monday, March 16.

Arya added, currently, mask production in Indonesia is experiencing problems. This is because the main raw materials must be imported from China. "(The raw material for masks) from China is not yet possible, but we are still working on it, because they are producers of masks, we are doing business, they are negotiating with China," said Arya. corona virus.