Covid-19 Hits Economy, Sri Mulyani: We Must have Imaginations

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani urged all elements to support the Indonesian economy. Sri asserted support must be provided by the government and public elements to allow a speedy recovery of the Indonesian economy following the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We must have imaginations, plan good ideas to rebuild the economy, design implementable policies while going through various global and domestic challenges, and then the imaginations can be achieved," Sri said through her official Instagram account on Friday, August 21, 2020.

Sri added that the country must also invest in human resources. Demographic bonuses, Sri said, can only be considered as bonus of the quality of the human resources has been successfully prepared.

"Indonesian children born in different social conditions, but must be provided equal opportunity in education, health, and social security net," Sri said.

Sri also underlined the importance of economic equality. All Indonesian citizens spread in all regions must be able to enjoy the same quality of public services and infrastructures.

In addition to the economy, the practice of democracy must be supported by a strong legal framework, and government and private institution.

"That is why, although the world, including Indonesia, is hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, we use this momentum to overcome short-term hurdles while consistently conducting fundamental transformation or reformation in all sectors so our imagination and hope about a developed Indonesia do not fade. The 2021 State Budget Draft has been prepared to achieve these two ideals," Sri said.

Meanwhile, for the short term, Sri mentioned that all parties have important roles to support Indonesian economic sustainability, starting from the government who executes budget absorption and redesigning stimulus policies to respond with issues, until high discipline in complying with health protocols by the public.

"Don't forget to use Indonesian small-medium enterprise products so the economy can recover quickly. Let us achieve our imagination about a developed Indonesia together," Sri said.

Previously, in an online discussion, Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that the Covid-19 pandemic is a very challenging situation, even for someone with her level of experience as a finance minister.

"Even for a veteran finance minister like me, this is a very challenging and very different condition, also longer than what other people imagined," Sri said on Wednesday, August 19, 2020.

EKO WAHYUDI