Gov’t to Calculate Impact of Coronavirus Outbreak on Indonesia’s Economic Growth

President Jokowi chairs a Limited Cabinet Meeting on the Preparedness to Deal with the Impact of Coronavirus Outbreak, at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java Province, Tuesday (4/2). (Photo by: PR / Jay).

In a bid to deal with coronavirus outbreak, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo instructed ministers to calculate the impact of policy to handle coronavirus on the country’s economic growth in trade, investment, and tourism sectors.

“We know that China is one of the major buyers with a market share of 16.6% of Indonesia’s total exports,” President Jokowi said in his remarks at a Limited Cabinet Meeting on the Preparedness to Deal with the Impact of Coronavirus Outbreak, at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java Province, Tuesday (4/2).

President Jokowi said that the Government should anticipate the impact of the coronavirus that slowdown China’s economy and affected Indonesia’s export products.

“I think there should be an opportunity to take advantage of the export market to other countries that import the same product from China,” the President said, adding that it is a momentum for the import substitution industry in the country to increase production of various products that were previously imported from China

In the tourism sector, the President continued, there should be contingency measures for several tourist destinations, including Bali and North Sulawesi, which have been visited by tourists from China.

“In the short term, the Government should seize the opportunity to target international tourists that canceled their visit to China for alternative destinations in Indonesia,” the President added.

Also present during the limited meeting were, among others, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Moh Mahfud MD, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staff Muldoko, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Minister of Health Terawan Agus Putranto, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Wishnutama, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna H. Laoly, Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno LP Marsudi, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing  Basuki Hadimuljono.

In addition, there were also Minister of Trade Agus Supramanto, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Minister of Research and National Innovation Bambang Brodjonegoro, Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Teten Masduki, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati, Head of Investment Coordinating Board Bahlil Lahadalia, Indonesian National Defense Forces Commander Hadi Tjahjanto, Indonesian National Police Chief Idham Aziz, Head of National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Budi Gunawan. (IFR / SM / EN)

Translated by: Syarifah Aisyah
Reviewed by: Yuyu Mulyani