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Kadin donates Rp 300 billion for COVID-19 healthcare response
Kadin has collected more than Rp 300 billion (US$18.3 million) from its members for healthcare equipment and aid for healthcare professionals in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairman Rosan Roeslani. (JP/Ayomi Amindoni)
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he Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has collected more than Rp 300 billion (US$18.3 million) from its members for healthcare equipment and aid for healthcare professionals in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are giving the donations in the form of goods such as surgical masks, food and drink and protective clothing,” Kadin chairman Rosan Roeslani said during a joint teleconference with the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Ministry.
The donations, which were initially targeted to reach Rp 500 billion, have been channeled directly to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the COVID-19 fast-response team, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) and the Health Ministry.
Medium and large enterprises under Kadin are also channeling their donations through state-owned enterprises.
Read also: We’re all in this together: Companies join hands to mitigate COVID-19 pandemic
Rosan said the businesses were also donating 5,000 rapid test kits and 2,000 items of protective clothing through the Pertamina Bina Medika-Indonesia Healthcare Corporation (Pertamedika-IHC), which was designed to be the holding company for state hospitals.
The businesses had also donated 10,000 surgical masks to flag carrier Garuda Indonesia to provide pilots and flight attendants with adequate protection in the air, Sinar Mas Group managing director Sulistiyono said during the teleconference.
The collaboration between private businesses and SOEs also extends to the procurement of medical supplies as Sulistiyono said that businesses were partnering up with Garuda to help bring the necessary supplies to the country.
Sulistiyono also lauded the government for assisting the private sector with the donations by relaxing import requirements for the donated healthcare equipment.
“We really thank the government for relaxing import bureaucracy and taxation to help us bring these supplies to Indonesia,” he said.
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The Finance Ministry has pledged support for businesses importing medical equipment and medicine needed to handle the pandemic, including eliminating import duties for medicines and COVID-19 testing devices.
SOE Minister Erick Thohir said partnership was crucial in helping the country to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
“Along with the private sector, we can fight this virus with mutual cooperation,” he said.
