President Jokowi Launches Cash Assistance Program for Street Vendors, Small Stall Owners

President Jokowi and his entourage engage in a discussion with representatives of street vendors and small business players in Malioboro Street, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Saturday (9/10). (Photo by: Presidential Secretariat/ Laily Rachev)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo visited one of Yogyakarta’s most popular destinations Malioboro Street and greeted people in that area to kick off his working visit in Special Region of Yogyakarta.

President Jokowi took a walk from Agung Building, Yogyakarta Presidential Palace to Malioboro at around 08.45 Western Indonesian Time along with Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, and Governor of Yogyakarta Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X.

In Malioboro, President Jokowi launched Cash Assistance Program for Street Vendors and Small Stall Owners (BT-PKLW). The Assistance will also be disbursed in other regions with the help of personnel of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri).

“One million street vendors and small stall owners throughout the country will each receive Rp1.2 million of cash assistance,” the President said.

On that occasion, he also had a discussion with representatives of street vendors and small business players to listen to their input and aspiration.

A representative of street vendors, andong (horse-drawn carriage) and rickshaw drivers in Malioboro Street, Rudi, extended his gratitude for the Government’s assistance. Rudi also expressed hope that the President’s visit today could convince tourists that Malioboro is safe to visit.

Other representative told the President about his wishes for immediate reopening of tourism sector in Yogyakarta so that the street vendors particularly in Malioboro can benefit from it.

“We, as street vendors, hope that we can resume our activities in Malioboro and tourism sector can revive so we can gain benefit from tourists’ visit and purchase in Malioboro,” he said. (PRESIDENTIAL SECRETARIAT /AIT/UN) (RAS/MMB)