Gov’t Distributes 35 Million Masks for Public

Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita and Chairperson of the Committee for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery (PCPEN) Airlangga Hartarto symbolically hand over masks to the communities through the TNI and Polri, Jakarta, Wednesday (24/02). (Photo by: PR of Ministry of Industry)

In a bid to educate the public and boost public compliance in wearing a face mask, the Government through Ministry of Industry today (24/02) has provided 35 million masks for the public.

“This is the initial stage for handover and we are targeting that we can complete the distribution of 35 million masks next month,” Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said.

The masks distribution will be channeled through the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri). “The masks are manufactured according to the set standards. We cooperate with both large and small domestic textile industries for the procurement process,” he added.

Agus further said that as an effort to contribute positively to the economy, the Ministry has issued a host of strategic policies to support the acceleration of the handling of COVID-19, including granting Operational Permits and Industrial Activity Mobility (IOMKI), reduce gas prices for industries, and exempt minimum electricity payments for industry players.

“On account of these three policies and accompanied by other stimuli, alhamdulillah our national industries manage to survive,” the Minister said, adding that these policies and other programs will be continued this year to accelerate economic recovery.

In the meantime, Chairperson of the Committee for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery (PCPEN) Airlangga Hartarto expressed his gratitude to Ministry of Industry, the TNI and Polri for their contribution to the pandemic handling and economic recovery.

For the record, the Government renewed commitment to accelerate the handling of COVID-19. The Government has made several efforts to strengthen economic growth during the pandemic, including by optimizing the PCPEN budget allocated for the health sector, social protection, and priority programs covering tourism support, food security, information and communication technology development, capital loans to regions and regional loan subsidies, labor-intensive programs of ministries and institutions, and development of industrial estates. (Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs PR) (GWH/MUR)