The impacts (of the pandemic) that would appear soon are the increase in poverty and the social gap.Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin pointed out that an increase in the poverty rate and a wider social gap were among the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to surface at the earliest.
"The impacts (of the pandemic) that would appear soon are the increase in poverty and the social gap. Those will appear at the earliest," Amin stated in Jakarta at the virtual opening of the National Meeting V of the Sharia Economy Society (MES) on Saturday.
According to the vice president, the COVID-19 pandemic has had wide-ranging impacts, not only in the health sector but also in the social and economic sectors.
"As we know, Indonesia is battling the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic would not only raise issues in the health sector but also impact the social and economic fields," he cautioned.
The government has adopted numerous measures through the COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Program to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.
However, Amin strongly believes that despite measures, economic recovery might not be achieved in the short term.
The vice president has urged all stakeholders in the development of sharia economy in Indonesia to step up their participation in economic activities.
"Economic activity must be encouraged using the existing opportunity. At the end, it would narrow down the (social) gap in the country," Amin emphasized.
Related news: COVID-19 will push up Indonesia's poverty rate: VP EDITED BY INE
Translator: Fransiska Ninditya, Sri Haryat
Editor: Suharto
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