Covid-19 could reverse the trend of reducing poverty in the last 9 years. The number of new poor people is predicted to rise to between 1.1-3.78 million, and the number of new unemployed is predicted to reach 2.9-5.2 million in the worst-case scenario. Now, the population below the poverty line reaches 10.86%, while the poor and vulnerable population is 30.77%.

Minister of National Development Planning and Head of BAPPENAS, Suharso Monoarfa, revealed the goal of national development in 2021, is first to reduce poverty levels. To achieve these targets, the focus of government economic recovery is the recovery of industry, tourism and investment, including strengthening food security systems; National health system reform; Reform of the social protection system; Reform of the disaster management system; and education reform.

Suharso also said that collaboration is the key to achieving these targets. “The government clearly cannot work alone but requires intensive collaboration between the government, business people, and the community, and various relevant stakeholders. For this reason, various joint steps can be taken to overcome the impact of the pandemic in the business sector collective action agenda to support the achievement of SDGs. “

Related to business world initiatives in supporting the achievement of SDGs, IBSCD Chairman Sihol Aritonang revealed that despite the pandemic, the majority of industries did not change their views on SDGs. As many as 81.8% of respondents from the IBCSD survey stated that the company will continue to do various businesses and work according to the target SDGs that have been determined as a focus even before the pandemic occurs.

In addition to the three speakers, this time the webinar was also filled by the Chairperson of IPB SDG Network Bayu Krisnamurthi, Deputy CEO of PT Vale Indonesia Febriany Edy, and Manufacturing Director of PT Solusi Bangun Indonesia Lilik Unggul Raharjo. UNDP Indonesia Resident Representative, Christophe Bahuet was also present as a respondent, together with representatives of the younger generation through Youth in Sustainability.

This Plenary Webinar is an opening of a series of webinars that will be run by IBCSD. It is planned that there will be three more webinars which will cover development issues and SDGs according to the Social, Economic and Environmental pillars. Rows of speakers from Ministerial level, business actors, to academics are ready to fill in the series of webinars that will last until August 2020. 

Find all the speakers material, press release, and the recorded webinar here:

Download Speakers Material

In addition to providing food for the community, PT Freeport Indonesia through the Amungme and Kamoro Community Empowerment Foundation (YPMAK) has also provided COVID-19 handling assistance to the Mimika Regency Government, Papua Province and the Central Government. PT Freeport Indonesia provided Rp 2 billion in assistance to the Mimika Regional Government as support to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Mimika. Not only that, YPMAK also provided equipment in the form of 39 disinfectants, 48 spray machines, 100 boxes masks and protective clothing and shoes.

Previously, PT Freeport Indonesia had also been socializing prevention of transmission and spread of COVID-19. The socialization to the Kamoro community carried out since the end of March 2020 was focused on five villages in the Kamora, Ajkwa, Mawati and Minajerwi (DASKAMM) watersheds at the RT / TW unit level. On this occasion, PTFI also distributed sterilizing fluids, masks and soap for washing hands and bathing to the local community

Responding to the development of the global pandemic COVID-19, PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) has also moved quickly from the beginning by taking steps to protect the workforce and the community from potential sources of transmission of the virus, by limiting all trips to Timika, and areas the PTFI project, and limit the movement of personnel from the lowlands to the Highlands.

Since the beginning of March 2020, PT Vale Indonesia have taken several precautions, including:

• Suspend all international and domestic trips for business except those that are critical.
• Stops flights to and from Sorowako except for emergencies
• Activities that involve many people at the same time and place are also suspended.
• Implement work from home mechanisms for certain types of work and for employees with a history of health problems.
• For employees who are still needed on the job site, the Company provides special support to maintain health,
• Perform periodic spraying of disinfectants in operational vehicles and work areas.
• At Sorowako Airport and the entrances to the operation area, a body temperature check is done with a thermo camera, also placing a sterilization booth
• Closing public facilities under PT Vale’s management and applying a home study method for YPS students.
• Preparing the hospital and the isolation room in case there is a positive case of COVID-19
• Campaigning together with religious leaders for social distancing
• Collaborate with local governments and help procure ambulances, PPE, disinfectants, ventilators, thermo guns to several areas

At present the district government has also begun to aim to close or restrict access in and out of the district. PT Vale continues to collaborate with various parties to jointly prevent the spread of COVID-19. You may check more than dozen of PT Vales Indonesia’s initiatives and collaboration in coping the situation caused by COVID-19 on their youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcyDt1h-5ltAge6ynTnPn4g

APRIL Group responded to the Indonesian government’s request for vital equipment to fight COVID-19 by donating 1 Million medical masks, 1 Millionsurgical gloves, 100,000 PPE gowns, & 3,000 safety goggles.
Learn more here