Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) believes that the G20 Summit in Indonesia in 2022 could be a platform to showcase the nation's ability to handle the COVID-19 pandemic and restore the economy.
President Jokowi, after reviewing the location of the 2022 G20 Summit in Nusa Dua, noted that Indonesia should provide the best services as a host and holder of the G20 Presidency in 2022.
"We must also be able to make the most of the G20 Summit, as a showcase, regarding our country's ability to control the COVID-19 pandemic, both from a health and economic perspective," the president remarked.
During the review, President Jokowi was accompanied by Minister of State Secretary Pratikno and Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi.
President Jokowi explained that Indonesia will also highlight the progress achieved during the series of events of the 2022 G20 Summit.
In addition, as a pluralistic country, Indonesia will display the nation's cultural wealth.
"At the same time, we also want to showcase Indonesian leadership in the G20 Presidency," he stated.
Related news: President to observe mangrove planting, G20 Summit venues in Bali
He expressed optimism that the central and regional governments as well as the people of Bali would continue to work together to stem the spread of COVID-19.
Jokowi was pleased on receiving a report regarding the high COVID-19 vaccination figure in Bali.
"I received a report this morning that 98 percent of Balinese people have received the first dose of vaccine, while 79 percent have received the second dose," he remarked.
Accelerating COVID-19 vaccination would be Indonesia's strength to prepare for the G20 Summit.
Meanwhile, Indonesia will receive the G20 Presidency relay baton from Italy at the G-20 Summit in Rome that is scheduled to take place at the end of October 2021.
The G20 is a global economic forum of 19 main countries driving the world economy, including Indonesia, and one regional representative, the European Union, which has a significant contribution to the world's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
This group of countries, contributing to 85 percent of the world's GDP, 75 percent of world trade, and 80 percent of global investment, also covers two-thirds of the world's population.
The government had earlier estimated that several direct benefits could be derived by holding the G20 summit physically, such as an increase in domestic consumption to Rp1.7 trillion, an increase in national GDP to Rp7.4 trillion, the involvement of MSMEs, and the absorption of 33 thousand workers in various sectors.
Related news: G20 Presidency to bring medium- to long-term positive impacts
