We have learned a lot from the pandemic.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati stated that Indonesia had succeeded in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, including in implementing the handling of the pandemic and economy recovery.

"We have learned a lot from the pandemic. Assessing the results (of mitigation attempt we carry out, it can be said that) Indonesia is a country which is considered very responsive and competent at mitigating COVID-19," she said at the National Working Meeting on Accounting and Reporting of Government Finance, here on Thursday.

She noted that Indonesia’s success in handling the pandemic can be seen from a number of indicators, including controlled positivity rate, accelerated vaccination coverage, as well as massive work in treating COVID-19 patients.

It is an extraordinary achievement of all parties, considering that Indonesia has quite difficult geographical conditions and a very large population, the minister added.

“The attempts which have been taken by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), the ministers, the regional heads, as well as the institutions heads, are incredible," Indrawati remarked.

In addition to success in dealing with COVID-19, Indonesia has also become one of the few countries whose total of gross domestic product (GDP) in mid-2021 is higher than their total of GDP in 2019.

However, the economic conditions of many G20 and ASEAN member countries have not recovered, Indrawati noted.

She has said that the successful pandemic handling and national economic revival cannot be separated from the role of the state budget (APBN) as a shock absorber during the crisis, which triggered the hike of commodity prices – proven by the budget deficit and debt, which is quite modest compared to other countries.

"There are countries whose deficits reach double digits -- reaching 10 percent to 15 percent (of their state budgets) – and their economes have not recovered. Our deficit in 2020 was 6 percent, then it declined to 4.7 percent (in 2021). Thus, we have expected that this year (in 2022), it (the deficit) will decrease again,” she said.

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Translator: Astrid Habibah, Uyu Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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