We cannot become secluded.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir has said SOEs’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities would be focused on three sectors – health, education, and green environment.

"We (SOEs) have to devote our CSR to the right sectors. Formerly, we have done many CSR projects in various aspects. From now on, we will refocus our CSR activities to health, education, and green environment sectors as they have become the most crucial ones,” he informed here on Friday.

Prior to making the statement, the minister emphasized that he will continue to maximize the role of SOEs in assisting the handling of COVID-19 in Indonesia. The efforts are aimed at easing the burden on hospitals and saving more human lives, he said.

Hence, he urged SOEs to become part of Indonesia’s integrated health service ecosystem.

"We cannot become secluded. We have to collaborate with various parties -- including the private ones -- to pull through this global pandemic,” he stressed.

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Noting social projects conducted by SOEs amid the pandemic, he pointed out SOEs' assistance to the Public Work and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry in preparing the Kemayoran Athletes Village COVID-19 Emergency Hospital when the pandemic emerged in Indonesia last year.

The SOEs have also constructed COVID-19 modular hospitals and Hajj Dormitory COVID-19 Emergency Hospitals in Jakarta and Lampung amid a continued rise in the national bed occupancy rate, he said.

Furthermore, SOEs have continued to mobilize their resources to meet the high demand for oxygen for COVID-19 patients, the minister added.

"SOEs have also supported the government to disburse free of cost medicines along with the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), National Police (Polri) as well as community health centers (Puskesmas)," he added.

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Translator: Aji Cakti, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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