Indonesia Must Boost Virus Spending to $100 Billion, Group Says
- Business chamber says time running out as Covid-19 cases surge
- Stimulus and spending on health far too small, businesses say
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Indonesia is running out of time to contain the raging coronavirus pandemic and the government should immediately ramp up stimulus by tens of billions of dollars to lessen the economic shock, according to the nation’s top business lobby group.
President Joko Widodo should boost spending to at least 1,600 trillion rupiah ($102 billion) over the next six months to counter the economic hit from the virus, said Carmelita Hartoto, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. About 600 trillion rupiah is needed to cover wages of millions of people out of jobs while another 400 trillion rupiah should be spent on social safety net programs and the health system, she said.