“A vaccine that becomes the game-changer will be able to increase public confidence in the health and recovery of the national economy," Hartarto said at an online discussion in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The Indonesian government is currently awaiting emergency-use authorization from the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) for the 1.2 million doses of Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine that arrived in Indonesia on Sunday (December 6, 2020), he informed.
"We are waiting for the emergency-use authorization procedure from BPOM and this is the government's priority," he added.
According to him, the coronavirus vaccine can serve as a driver for full economic recovery, in line with the implementation of the gas-and-brake policy by the government to control COVID-19 cases.
Related news: Economic recovery hinges on COVID-19 vaccine: Finance Minister
He said that even though COVID-19 cases in Indonesia have continued to increase, the country’s recovery rate of 82.91 percent is higher than the global average, so it can be seen as a positive signal amid the relaxation of community activities.
“(The recovery rate has been) A positive signal in the midst of easing of community activities along with the enforcement of the COVID-19 protocol, which must be maintained," he remarked.
Therefore, the balancing of the gas-and-brake policy in the health and economy sectors would have implications in reviving public optimism in the future, he added.
This can already be seen in the momentum of economic recovery witnessed in the third quarter, with growth improving from minus 5.32 percent to minus 3.49 percent, supported by the expansion of manufacturing activity, the minister said.
The recovery has also been reflected in the growth recorded in various sectors such as agriculture, information and communication technology, manufacturing, construction, trade and external resilience, the minister observed.
"For this reason, it is important to maintain the momentum of economic growth and encourage government spending. As a result, there will be household investment and private sector investment," he said. (INE)
Related news: Vaccine, health protocol prerequisite for economic recovery: BI
Related news: COVID-19 vaccine availability could spur economic recovery: minister
Translator: Astrid Habibah, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
