President Jokowi: Pandemic Brings Extraordinary Lessons on Development Planning

President Jokowi inaugurates National Development Planning Conference accompanied by Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani, Head of National Development Planning Agency Suharso Monoarfa, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Tuesday (04/05/2021) at the State Palace, Jakarta. (Photo: PR of Cabinet Secretary/Agung)

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it extraordinary lessons on development planning in Indonesia, according to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

“However good our plan is, we must also be ready to make changes immediately to adjust to challenges and opportunities,” he said while inaugurating the National Development Planning Conference, Tuesday (04/05), at the State Palace in Jakarta.

Although the implementation of development must be dynamic, the President added, the aims remain the same, namely to improve public welfare and to advance the nation.

“What remains unchanged are the main objectives, namely to improve public welfare, to advance the nation. However, the methods oftentimes must change as challenges and opportunities change,” he said while underscoring that a synergy of force from national components is needed to solve issues that emerge due to the pandemic, including health and economic issues.

The Head of State also pointed out that in the health sector, T3 (testing, tracing, and treatment) measures, vaccination, and discipline in observing 3M health protocols (wearing a mask, washing hands, and maintaining a safe distance) require the support of all national components.

“It requires active participation of all ranks of the government, both at the central level and at the regional level, as well as productivity of the industry sector, including small and big ones, to manufacture medical devices and medicines. The support of other countries is also highly needed,” he remarked.

The President further said that the pandemic that has occurred for over a year has led to the inevitable utilization of advanced science and technology, adding that when all activities, such as government services, education, and retail business cannot be carried out offline, they must be done online immediately.

“When we need quick, accurate, integrated data, what we need is digital technology. When we need medicines, vaccines, medical devices, what we urgently need is technology,” he said. (DND/UN) (DH/EP)