I am not tired of constantly reminding the public, particularly MSME players, to immediately get vaccinated and continue to follow health protocols while conducting any activities.Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma’ruf Amin called on all players of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to immediately receive the COVID-19 vaccine in order to stay productive amid the pandemic.
“I am not tired of constantly reminding the public, particularly MSME players, to immediately get vaccinated and continue to follow health protocols while conducting any activities,” Amin noted during the launch of Accelerated Synergy of Halal MSME Industry Development organized virtually by the National Committee for Sharia Economics and Finance (KNEKS) here on Wednesday.
The vice president also called on MSME players to stay disciplined in implementing the 5M protocols of wearing masks, washing hands, maintain physical distance, avoiding crowds, and reducing mobility as part of the efforts to lead a healthy and productive lifestyle.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has weakened the economy at the global and national levels, including the sharia economy, according to the vice president.
However, the sharia economy in Indonesia did not record a sharper contraction as compared to the national economy impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, he remarked.
“Indonesia’s sharia economy in 2020 had contracted at a better rate than the national GDP,” he informed.
Furthermore, the prioritized sector performance of the halal value chain ecosystem in 2020, supported by the agriculture and food sectors, still clocked positive growth despite its deceleration in 2019.
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Such performance showed that development of the sharia finance and economy was highly resilient amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The development of sharia finance and economic sectors certainly necessitates more attention and support in order to develop more optimally and contribute to the national economic recovery,” Amin highlighted.
To expedite the development of sharia finance and economy in Indonesia, Amin urged all stakeholders to bolster the halal industry of MSMEs, so they can contribute significantly.
“MSMEs are the keys to accelerating the sharia economy that should be considered seriously, maintained, and developed by us all,” he affirmed.
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Translator: Fransiska, Juwita Trisna R
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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