Newly-Inaugurated Governors Commited to Focus on COVID-19 Handling, Economic Recovery

A parade prior to the Inauguration Ceremony, Thursday (25/02), in Jakarta. (Photo by: PR/Agung)

The three newly-inaugurated regional heads on Thursday (25/02) have expressed their commitment to focus on COVID-19 handling and to recover and strengthen the economy.

The three regional heads are West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi, Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad, and Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah.

West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi further said that he will improve the ease of access to capital for more than 590 thousand MSMEs in West Sumatra and strengthen the community’s economy in various sectors, namely agriculture, livestocks, fisheries, marine, and others.

Together with Deputy Governor Audi Joinaldy, Mahyeldi is also committed to improving tourism as well as education and culture sector in West Sumatra.

Similar statement also made by Governor of Riau Islands Ansar Ahmad and Deputy Governor Marlin Agustina. According to Ansar, the pandemic handling must be taken seriously so various economic and social activities can return to normal.

In addition, Ansar said the Riau Islands had achieved economic growth of up to 8 percent with Batam as the main driver. However, the province experienced a significant economic decline during the pandemic since most of its economic activities were export-oriented and tourism-oriented.

“I, together with the Deputy Governor and all stakeholders in Riau Islands, will act swiftly to carry out economic recovery efforts,” he added.

On the occasion, Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah said he would optimize the use of Bengkulu’s leading commodities in the agricultural, plantation, as well as coastal and marine products as an effort to create welfare for the people in his region.

“There is one outer island (in our region), Enggano Island, which has great potential in developing coastal and marine-based tourism, developing plantation of coffee, palm oil, rubber, and others,” Rohidin said, adding that he would prioritize downstream industry in developing these commodities.

Furthermore, Rohidin said hewill encourage the development of MSMEs in the region, one of which by synergizing it with the tourism sector through the Dedi Dewi (Digital Village, Tourism Village) Program which is in line with President Jokowi’s policies.

“We will synergize the digital villages with the tourist villages of 1,431 villages in Bengkulu so it will become a trigger where the digital coffee shop will drive the economy at the village level. This program is in line with the era of digitalization, especially during COVID-19 pandemic,” he concluded. (TGH/DND/UN) (GWH/LW)