Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia during Inauguration of PT Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia’s Factory, in Jakarta Industrial Estate Pulogadung (JIEP), Jakarta, October 7, 2022
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good afternoon,
May prosperity be upon us all.
Distinguished Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Indonesia His Excellency Mr. Lu Kang;
Distinguished Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment and Minister of Health;
Distinguished member of the Presidential Advisory Council (Wantimpres) Mr. Sidarto Danusubroto;
Distinguished Deputy Chair of Commission IX of the House of Representatives Mr. Melkiades Laka Lena;
Distinguished Director of PT Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia Mr. Nathan Tirtana, Head of the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), all directors and employees of PT Etana;
Esteemed Guests.
I recalled when the pandemic started. It caused panic among Government ranks because we were fighting over vaccines with other countries. We were fighting over Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) without realizing that we produced them. The situation was so confusing at that time.
But alhamdulillah, we have administered 440 million doses of vaccine to the people. Indonesia is one of the best countries in terms of pandemic handling and mitigation.
Regarding health matters, I was surprised that our citizens went abroad for treatment and spent US$6 billion in total, or almost Rp100 trillion. Some of them went to Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan.
Be careful, our foreign exchange fell by almost Rp100 trillion due to people’s consideration that hospitals or medical equipment in the country are unqualified enough. They prefer having treatment abroad instead of their own country. In fact, we also have high quality human resources in the medical field.
Therefore, I do welcome PT Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia’s efforts to produce vaccines with mRNA platform, and this is the first ever in Southeast Asia.
We do not expect another pandemic to come, but we will be much well-prepared if our industry is ready. As Mr. Nathan said earlier, a new vaccine can enter clinical trials within two months, which is faster. I am surprised that the company worked in silence. All of a sudden, the product is immediately ready. I like the way they work. They’re not like those who keep talking without getting results.
To that end, I urge the Coordinating Minister and Health Minister to fully support such industry like PT Etana in order to promote development not only in biopharmaceutical or biotechnology sectors but also in agricultural sector. That way, we will be self-reliant.
That concludes my remarks on this auspicious occasion. And by saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, this afternoon I hereby inaugurate the Biopharmaceutical Factory of PT Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia.
I thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (RIF/MMB)