President Jokowi Takes IMF Managing Director to Tanah Abang Market

President Jokowi welcomes IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde’s visit at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Monday (26/2) morning. (Photo by: Nia/Public Relations Division).

After taking Managing Director of International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde to visit Pertamina Central Hospital to observe the implementation of the Healthy Indonesia Card (KIS), President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo also took Lagarde on a blusukan (impromptu visit) to Tanah Abang Market in Central Jakarta, which is the biggest textile market and fashion retail in South East Asia.

The President explained that the visit aims to show Indonesia’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to Lagarde.

“Earlier, I asked Mrs. Lagarde about how micro, small, and medium enterprises are facing the age of openness and the economics of digitization, and she revealed the formulations,” the President said.

According to President Jokowi,  Tanah Abang Market boasts a total of more than 19,000 kiosks, which is a great strength for the economy. “So this I think will also be a field experience for Mrs. Lagarde,” the President said.

During the visit to the Market, Mrs. Lagarde took time to shop for a blue baju koko (a loose-fitting Muslim shirts for men) for her spouse.

Also accompanying the President were Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Governor of central bank Bank Indonesia (BI) Agus Martowardojo, and Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan.

For the record, President Jokowi welcomed Lagarde on Monday at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta before taking her on a tour of several places including Pertamina Central Hospital and Tanah Abang Market.  (UN/ES) (MUR/EP/YM/Naster).