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Bakrie group donates Rp 20 billion for coronavirus aid
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Bakrie Group CEO and president director Anindya Bakrie. (thejakartapost.com/Anton Hermansyah)
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onglomerate company Bakrie Group donated Rp 20 billion (US$1.2 million) to the COVID-19 task force led by National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) on Friday.
Bakrie Group CEO and president director Anindya Bakrie said at a handover ceremony that as a private sector business, his company wanted to contribute to helping the government handle the COVID-19 outbreak in the country as the pandemic had led to a “multi-dimensional crisis”.
“As we know, the pandemic has not only had serious clinical effects, but also economic and sociological and even psychological aspects for our society overall,” said Anindya in a written statement.
The statement did not elaborate on how the donations are expected to be spent, but the BNPB has been appointed to the frontline in handling the COVID-19 emergency response in Indonesia.
The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) previously announced it had 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.
“The Bakrie Group’s follow-up action is concrete proof that the businesses within Kadin and the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry have strengthened synergy in tackling the problems being faced by our nation,” Kadin chairman Rosan Roeslani said at the Bakrie Group’s ceremonial event as quoted in the statement.
Meanwhile, BNPB head Doni Monaro, who also joined the ceremony said the donation was an important sign of collaboration between the private sector and the government, and that “business is not just about profit and losses”.
“We can never thank all our doctors, nurses and our medical staff enough. They are our nation’s real heroes,” Doni said.
Bakrie Group’s donation is the latest contribution to the list of private sector companies helping in alleviating the pandemic in Indonesia. Among other companies, diversified conglomerate Mayapada Group and the Tahir Foundation have also donated Rp 52 billion in the form of cash, shopping vouchers, medical equipment and food and drinks.
Indonesian health authorities had confirmed over 1,046 COVID-19 positive cases as of Friday, with 87 fatalities and 35 patients recovered. Globally, the pneumonia-like illness has infected more than 537,000 people with over 24,000 deaths. (eyc)
