Jakarta, Cidiss.co – Professor of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) Universitas Indonesia, Prof. Mayling Oey is optimistic that the National Economic Recovery Assistance (PEN) program can drive community economic growth after the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Mayling, the PEN program plan is already good.
“The plan is good and the hope is there,” said Mayling in a dialogue at the Indonesia Greet Afternoon program on Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI), Friday (18/3/2022).
Mayling explained that the PEN program as a government policy to move the national economy during the Covid-19 pandemic was expected by all parties. Especially the Small and Micro Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The PEN program is recognized for supporting the national economy.
He added that national economic growth is calculated from the formal sector. The pandemic has made many MSME outlets closed. Currently, the economy has started to revive along with the Covid-19 case which began to sag. Even the government has planned a strategy from the pandemic to the Covid-19 endemic.
“I live in Kemang. The economy is already alive,” he said.
Mayling explained, the most important thing is the lower middle class. Due to the pandemic, demand and supply have faltered. When looking at the conditions in today’s society, there are many street vendors (PKL), but the competition is fierce. Thus the income is not too much. While other jobs for the lower classes have not developed.
According to Mayling, KUR funds were quite large, which was issued by the government last year amounting to Rp.5.64 trillion. The KUR is in great demand by MSMEs.
“Hopefully the stalls and street vendors will sell more. That hope must exist,” he said.
Mayling admits that the PEN program is right on target. However, sometimes the program has gaps and there is an influence on the Indonesian economy that is affected by the global economy.
“What happened suddenly was that the price of oil went up, so cooking oil disappeared, and that had an impact on inflation. This war had a huge impact on inflation. But the Ukraine-Russia war had an impact on the world economy. This must be anticipated by global developments. Especially for the lower class,” he said.
