Visit Sarinah, IMF Boss Admires the Progress of Indonesia
- Syaefullah/VIVA.
VIVA – Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva visited the Sarinah shopping center with the Minister of SOEs (BUMN), Erick Thohir and the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno on Sunday, July 17, 2022 in Jakarta.
On that occasion, she went around looking at the Micro Small Medium Enterprise (UMKM) products that were presented. One of them visited the installation of Garuda Nusantara batik cloth along the 74 meters in the south lobby area.
After that, she watched a live demo of Batik Motif Sekar Jagad by people with disabilities, Sarinah Gallery or Sarinah photo exhibition and the Deconstruction and Reconstruction Installation of Gunungan Wayang by Dudung Alisyahbana.
Gedung Sarinah Thamrin
- Instagram @wika.sarinah
Minister of SOEs, Erick Thohir said the IMF's visit gave a positive image for Indonesia's development and economy.
"There were three things that she conveyed. She made sure that Indonesia was not in the brink of crisis as it was rumored to be," Erick said in Jakarta on Sunday, July 17, 2022.
According to Erick Thohir, it doesn’t reduce Indonesia's vigilance even though internally the Indonesian economy in a strong position.
"Externally, what is called geopolitics, the global economy could have an impact," the Minister of BUMN remarked.
Erick said Georgieva admired the progress of Indonesia's strong economic foundation, progress in infrastructure development, and empowerment of MSMEs.
In addition, Georgieva assessed that Indonesia's efforts to strengthen economic ecosystems such as those in Sarinah are very good.
"Ecosystem strengthening cannot be ego-sectoral, but it must support each other and there must be concrete results." Erick Thohir said.
Presiden Jokowi resmikan wajah baru Sarinah.
- Biro Pres dan Media Istana Kepresidenan.
He said that Sarinah was not only a storefront for local products. But also, the government's efforts to improve the quality of local products that can compete in the global and sustainable arena.
"There is no longer a perception as if the product has a bad standard, we can prove it here. Even yesterday, the president said local MSME products must be sold at a high price even though these are handmade from Indonesia,” Erick Thohir remarked.
Erick Thohir also added that if the IMF praised Indonesia, it’s not like it used to be.
"The IMF has come here and praises Indonesia, it's not like it used to be. It means that the leadership of Indonesian President, Joko Widodo is on the right track and let's work together to make sure we move forward again," Erick Thohir added.
