The expansion of the COVID-19 vaccination can directly grow the economy that has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
Bandarlampung, Lampung (ANTARA) - Chairman of the Indonesian Employer's Association (Apindo) of Lampung branch Ary Meizari Alfian has said that a massive and wider implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination program could accelerate economic growth.

"The expansion of the COVID-19 vaccination can directly grow the economy that has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic," he remarked when contacted here on Friday.

Some policies that can help the economy grow are the implementation of the PeduliLindungi application and imposition of vaccine requirements on people who want to travel or do their activities, Alfian said.

"By implementing the (PeduliLindungi) application and the existence of this mandatory vaccine policy, it will indirectly motivate people to participate in the vaccination program and there will be an expansion of vaccination. Therefore, at least businesses can be opened after the community begins to be vaccinated," he added.

According to Alfian, a positive economic trend has been witnessed due to growing confidence among business players to return to their activities post vaccination.

"Business players, such as MSMEs, after receiving vaccinations have, of course, become more confident of getting back up and building their businesses, and this is also one of the indicators of the economy coming back to life," he said.

Health insurance and public comfort in carrying out buying and selling transactions are among the priorities for business players, he added.

"Convenience and health are a priority for business actors, so one way to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic is by implementing digital transactions," Alfian said.

Through the development of the digital ecosystem, which includes the digitization of MSMEs, business players can market their products widely, without having to meet face-to-face, in order to drive the economy, he added.

"Digitalization is an obligation because currently, everything is limited. Otherwise the economy will not run smoothly," he said.

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Translator: Ruth Intan, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
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