Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia On Working Capital Assistance for Micro Business Sector Wednesday, 15 July 2020 at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java Province
FIRST SESSION
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
Distinguished Presidential Chief of Staff Mr. Moeldoko,
Head of Presidential Secretariat Mr. Heru,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Some of you are street traders; some of you are peddlers; some of you own home business; some of you are hawkers.
Any hawkers? All right.
Any home business owners?
There are many home business owners here.
Any peddlers?
Street traders?
I am aware that in today’s situation some of you may only get Rp200.000 a day, only half or a third from Rp. 500,000 or Rp. 800,000 you used to gain during the normal days, right?
Or is the situation starting to get back to the normal? Not yet?
Today we are facing tough situation.
The situation is tough, not only for micro or small business, but also for medium and big business due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The situation is not only faced by Indonesia, but also by other 215 countries. Nevertheless, I ask all of you not to be discouraged. Everyone must keep the spirit of hard work to ensure that everything is getting better when the situation returns to normal in the future. I hope all of you will continue to work hard, won’t you?
Going back to normal takes time. Therefore, we must survive and continue to work hard so that our business will continue to run well.
The street vendors, please raise your hand. How much is your daily revenue now? How much? Rp. 200,000 from the usual Rp500,000?.
What about the peddlers? You used to get Rp.300,000?
The peddler
During the normal I usually earned Rp 300,000. Now I earn no more than Rp 100,000.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Rp 300,000 during the normal and now it’s Rp100,000.
The peddler
That’s the revenue.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Yes, I know, that is the revenue.
The peddler
Not the profit.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Yes, that’s right, I know. Everyone is facing the same situation, I know. I always monitor the situation on the ground so I understand the situation. We are inviting all of you to the Palace to receive working capital assistance. Have all of you received the assistance?
The participants
Yes, Sir.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Everyone has received the assistance, thank God. Please use the assistance for additional working capital so that your business will be ready once the situation returns to the normal. The amount of the assistance is Rp2.4 million per person.
The participants
Thank you very much, Sir.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Have you been told about the amount of the assistance?
The participants
Not yet.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Oh, not yet. I thought you have been told about the amount. I think it will be used for additional working capital. We want to share the assistance with 12 million micro business owners across the nation and you are very lucky to be the first to receive the assistance.
I think that concludes my remarks on this auspicious occasion. Thank you for your visit. Good luck.
May all of us will always be protected by Allah.
Thank you.
Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
SECOND SESSION
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
Distinguished Presidential Chief of Staff Mr. Moeldoko,
Head of Presidential Secretariat Mr. Heru,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
First of all, I would like to thank everyone for your visit to the palace. Has anyone of you come to the Palace?
The participants
Not yet
President of the Republic of Indonesia
Not yet? I know that some of you are home business owners. Please raise your hand. Oh, there are a lot of home business owners. Any street traders? Hawkers? Oh, there are also a lot of hawkers. Any peddlers? There are some peddlers here.
I know that your business is facing the tough situation during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past, it was possible to earn Rp600,000 a day or Rp800,000 a day. Today, it may be Rp200,000 or Rp150,000 or Rp300,000, right?
Everyone is facing the same situation. The situation is tough, not only for micro or small business, but also for medium and big business. The situation is not only faced by Indonesia, but also by other 215 countries. The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered health crisis and economic crisis and every country is facing the same situation.
This afternoon I invite all of you to the palace to lift your spirit, to lift your spirit to work hard. The situation is very tough; therefore we need to work harder and we need greater efforts from all of us so that when the economy returns to normal, your business and revenue will also return to the normal. I think that is what we hope.
To that end, this afternoon the Government is delivering the working capital assistance. Have all of you received it? Yes. Have you been told about the amount of the assistance? Not yet?
The Government gives you envelopes and in every envelope there are Rp2.4 million that you can use for additional working capital so that you your business can return to the normal. Are you happy about that? All right. We hope that all of you will work hard and you can return your business turnover to its normal position.
I think that’s all, and … what is your business, Sir? What do you sell?
The participant
Coffee and cigarettes.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Coffee and cigarettes? What kind of coffee?
The participant
Hot coffee, Sir.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Oh, hot coffee. Are you a peddler?
The participant
No, Sir. I stay in one place to sell my goods.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Stay in one place?
The participant
Yes.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
All right. During the normal days, how much do you earn in a day?
The participant
During the normal days, I usually bring home Rp400,000. Now, it is impossible to earn that, even earning Rp150,000 is difficult. Many of us become beggars, Sir. I am sorry Sir, please help your people, the people of Indonesia. Please, Sir, help the street traders, help the street traders, please take care of street traders, our friends. O Allah, O God, O Allah.
That’s all from me, Sir.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Thank you, thank you, Sir, thank you.
Any home business owners? How is it going, ma’am? Please ma’am, tell me how much is your revenue now?
Home business owner
Now it’s only Rp150,000. It is hard to earn Rp200,000.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
That is the recent situation?
Home business owner
Yes.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
What about during the normal days?
Home business owner
Usually I earned Rp300,000.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Rp.400,000?
Home business owner
Since last year, I have not been able to earn Rp.300,000. Now, I get Rp150,000 at the most.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Yes, once again, this situation is faced by 215 countries. So, once again, do not be discouraged. Do not let the situation dampen your great spirit We must work hard. This is the real situation, a trial from Allah that we must address with our hard work.
Home business owner
Thank you, Sir.
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
I think that concludes my remarks on this auspicious occasion. Once again, thank you for visiting the Bogor Palace.
Thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
Translated by Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Reviewed by M. Ersan Pamungkas