TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Wednesday afternoon invited representatives of small and micro traders to the Bogor Presidential Palace to receive direct government assistance in a program specifically to help microenterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government program will see 12 million of these microenterprises - street traders up to household businesses - be handed Rp2.4 million each as working capital.

At the meeting, Jokowi spent most of the time personally motivating the traders to survive the difficult times.

“The additional working capital will be allocated to 12 million micro traders across the nation, and the ladies and gentlemen currently present are the lucky firsts to receive it,” said Jokowi in opening the meeting held at the palace’s yard to abide by physical distancing measures.

During the event, the president said that he received reports that small and micro traders sustained financial losses up to 50 percent compared to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. He also used the intimate moment with the traders to accommodate their complaints and open a discussion that would help lift the spirit of the group.

Rescuing small and micro-businesses had always been one of President Jokowi’s main focuses that were mentioned in a limited meeting held in June. At the time, the president pushed for an economic stimulus worth Rp695.2 trillion that would be able to be directly felt by businesses in general that is contained in the national economic recovery plan or PEN.

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