Everyone Should Share Similar ‘Feelings’ in Responding To Pandemic: President Jokowi

President Jokowi gives directives on COVID-19 Handling in Central Kalimantan province, Thursday (9/7). (Photo: Teguh/PR).

Everyone should share a similar ‘feeling’ in responding to the pandemic together with the crisis that follows, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said.

“As many as 215 countries are experiencing the same crisis nowadays. We share the same problem,” President Jokowi said in Central Kalimantan province, Thursday (9/7).

The President cited an example of an economic crisis that hit worldwide countries, namely the negative growth. According to him, global economy in the first quarter growth is predicted to grow at 2.97, while the second quarter it is estimated to be at minus 3.8.

Citing data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the President said that the outlook for global economic growth which was previously at -2.5 was revised  down to -5, and later revised down again from -6 to -7.6.

“In Europe, for example, the UK’s economic growth is estimated to be at -15.4 percent this year, Germany will be at -11.2 percent, France is expected to be at -17.2 percent, while Japan is at -8.3 percent,” the President said, while warning his Cabinet to be extra cautious because  economy and health sectors are equally important.

“Both aspects cannot be separated from one another. If we only prioritize the health sector but ignore the economy, our economy will drop, people’s welfare will decline, their immunity will also drop, and diseases will easily attack us,” he said.

Therefore, the President ordered his Cabinet to carefully manage the two aspects.

“The economy is currently experiencing the biggest disruption in decades in all sectors from production, demand, and supply. Everyone should be aware of it,” the President said. (UN / EN)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas