Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's business actors hailed the government's recent decision to annul the nationwide enforcement of level 3 activities restriction enforcement (PPKM) during the year-end holiday period as conducive for business recovery from the pandemic's effects.

"The annulment allows businesses -- malls, hotels, restaurants, amusement parks, transportation operators, and MSMEs -- to maximize the revenue potential during the holiday period amid the uncertainty posed by the pandemic," Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's deputy for regional autonomy development, Sarman Simanjorang, stated.

The annulment will facilitate businesses to contribute to enhancing the national economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2021, projected to lie in the range of 5.5 to six percent, by promoting household consumption, he stated.

"The decision to rescind the nationwide enforcement of PPKM will increase the likelihood of surpassing the economic growth target to reach 6.5 to seven percent, considering the consumer confidence index has returned to an optimum value of 113.4 points," Simanjorang remarked.

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By achieving the projected economic growth target in the fourth quarter of 2021, the deputy chair is sanguine that Indonesia's annual economic growth would reach 3.7-4.5 per cent.

"We must collaborate to prevent the third wave of COVID-19 infection, especially in view of the recently emerging Omicron variant. We fully support the government's measures to contain the virus variant from entering Indonesia," he stated.

The deputy chair urged relevant parties to maintain the progress achieved in the national economic recovery to ensure its continuation in 2022 enables the country to achieve quality economic growth.

Simanjorang, representing businesses and industries, also expressed gratitude for the government's decision on the PPKM that ensures economic growth opportunities remain open.

Earlier, the central government rescinded the earlier plan to set a uniform PPKM status at level 3 nationwide during the Christmas and New Year period to prevent a surge in COVID-19 cases.

The cancellation restored the authority of regional governments to determine the PPKM status in line with the actual regional condition despite some mobility restrictions for the holiday period still being in place.
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Translator: Ade Irma Junida, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
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