TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that this morning, July 22, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had contacted and reminded him not to let imported goods be on sale in digital platforms.

“Because the data shows there is a 20-percent increase in imports of consumer goods,” said Luhut in a virtual discussion on Wednesday, July 22.

According to the minister, e-commerce is presently intended for micro, small, and medium enterprises or MSMEs to deal with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government is campaigning for a movement of being proud of Indonesian-made products to encourage MSMEs to use digital platforms.

Luhut said sales on online platforms rose by eight folds during the pandemic that begins in March. He predicted that the number will jump by 16 times until the end of the year.

The government is also striving to boost the tourism movement through the absorption of government spending. Among efforts to realize this plan is by purchasing products and services of ministries or institutions for MSMEs via the National Public Procurement Agency (LKPP) until the year’s end.

Minister Luhut continued to say that his side would start resuming activities of the central government in the regions considering it would bring impacts on the regional economy, including job creation. “The local government has a vital role in encouraging these programs,” he said.

Read: Digital Economy Rockets 400 Percent Amid Pandemic: Govt

MUHAMMAD HENDARTYO