The Indonesian government has prepared a credit package worth up to 4.2 trillion rupiah (about 285 million USD) to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to resume production amid the complicated developments of COVID-19, according to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan.
Indonesian medical workers take samples for testing COVID-19 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) –💮 The Indonesian government has prepared a credit package worthup to 4.2 trillion rupiah (about 285 million USD) to support micro, small andmedium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to resume production amid the complicated developmentsof COVID-19, according to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs andInvestment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan.
The official said MSMEs play an important role in the Indonesian economy, adding that theycontributed 60 percent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and 14percent to the nation’s total export turnover in 2019. However,these firms are facing a lot of obstacles in accessing loans due to administrative procedures imposed by banks. The minister said he has asked banks to relax procedures to make it easierfor MSMEs to access loans, especially in the context of COVID-19. The number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 1,752 within one day to 84,882, with the death toll adding by 59 to 4,016, a local health official said on July 18. More than 43,260 patients have recovered so far. High number of infections were recorded in six provinces, namely North Sumatra, South Kalimantan, Jakarta, Central Java, East Java and South Sulawesi./.
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Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
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The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Indonesian medical workers take samples for testing COVID-19 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
