"Since mid-June 2021, the number of cases in Indonesia have increased due to the new Delta variant that spreads swiftly," Kacaribu stated on Thursday.
Kacaribu noted that the government also responded quickly to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases by enforcing Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) since July 3, 2021.
Kacaribu pointed out that the policy was part of the government’s efforts to prioritize the handling of the pandemic to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia.
The implementation of PPKM aimed to reduce community mobility, so that the transmission of COVID-19 can be handled and the number of active cases can be reduced again, Kacaribu stated.
He did not deny the implication of PPKM implementation on public consumption, but this step was deemed necessary to control the pandemic to facilitate economic recovery at the earliest.
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Kacaribu is optimistic that consumption, investment, and exports would bounce back along with the effectiveness of PPKM implementation.
The momentum for economic recovery will also contribute to the role of the state budget (APBN) and the national economic recovery (PEN) program. The two economic programs are still running, but with a limited source of income, the growth will be dismal.
The direction of economic recovery will be based on the performance of several business sectors, such as the manufacturing industry, transportation, warehouses, accommodation service, and food and beverage sector, also hinging on the progress in handling COVID-19.
"The government will focus on taking precautionary measures and responsive steps to suppress the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate vaccination while still conducting testing, tracing, and treatment (3T)," Kacaribu remarked.
Kacaribu made assurance that the synergy of fiscal and monetary policies would also be unceasingly strengthened to evade the negative impacts that could occur from the escalation of COVID-19 cases.
These efforts were maintained in accordance with the economic performance in the second quarter of 2021 during which a 7.07-percent (yoy) growth was recorded and in line with the Finance Ministry’s projections.
"This proves that the direction and strategy of recovery is on the right track and is actually occurring," Kacaribu noted in his closing statement. Related news: Third-quarter economic growth rate hinges on emergency PPKM: minister
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Translator: Astrid H, Resinta S
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
