Deputy Chairman of Kadin's Regional Autonomy Development Sarman Simanjorang said in a statement released here Tuesday that the relaxations boost visitor capacity for shopping centers or malls by 50 percent and allow restaurants to accept dine-in customers (capped at 25 percent of capacity).
The number of mall visitors would hopefully increase by two- or three-fold to the point where the trade sector could grow and contribute to the economic growth target for the third quarter of 2021, he added.
"If these relaxations will be expanded further in the future, we believe that the economic growth target for the third and the fourth quarter of 2021 can be achieved like we hope," he asserted.
Entrepreneurs comply with and are ready for enforcement of PPKM rules, including ensuring visitors have been vaccinated, implementing tight health protocols, restricting the number of visitors and operational hours, as well as supporting the national vaccination program, he said.
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"Entrepreneurs are committed to reducing the number of COVID-19 cases down to its lowest level so that the PPKM level can gradually be lowered from level 4 to level 1," he noted.
Simanjorang, who is also chairman of the Indonesian Native Entrepreneurs Association (HIPPI)-Jakarta Chapter, remarked that there are still scores of enterprises that are awaiting the lowering of the PPKM level to resume their business activities.
The entrepreneurs also fully back the government's efforts towards designing a Living Alongside Corona Roadmap, which will dictate economic and communal activities in six sectors: trade, offices, transportation, tourism, religion, and education, he said.
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Translator: Ade Junida, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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