President Jokowi Appoints Erick Thohir To Lead The Task Force For Economic Recovery And Handling COVID-19

Minister of BUMN, Erick Thohir. (Photo: Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) formed a task force (task force) or task force for national economic recovery and handling of COVID-19. Jokowi chose BUMN Minister Erick Thohir as the leader of this task force.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said Monday 20 July that the formation of this team was determined by the signing of a Government Regulation (PP) on handling COVID-19 and national economic recovery. This committee is in charge of coordinating policies related to handling Covid-19.

"The president gave the task to the policy committee and a team was created there to control the handling of economic recovery and handling of the impact of COVID-19," said Airlangga.

He explained that he, as the Coordinating Minister for the economy, would become the chairman of the policy team. The team also included Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD.

In addition, there were Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, and Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto. In addition to the current Covid-19 Handling Acceleration Task Force, a task force for economic recovery will also be created.

Erick Thoir as Minister of BUMN will be the executor in coordinating the two task forces. The Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19 is still chaired by the Head of the BNPB, Doni Monardo.

"The head of the COVID-19 task force is still Pak Doni Monardo, and the economic task force, Deputy Minister of BUMN Budi Gunadi Sadikin," said Airlangga.

The reason for the creation of a task force related to economic recovery is the length of time it is likely that the COVID-19 pandemic will end. Therefore, the team is tasked with planning and executing programs so that handling COVID-19 and economic recovery go hand in hand.