UNS — The governor of Central Java province (Jateng), Ganjar Pranowo, praised the assistance for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) provided by Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta. The praise was delivered on 43rd Wedangan IKA UNS, Saturday evening (6/2/2021) through Zoom Cloud Meeting.
Besides praise, the governor also asked IKA UNS and UNS to assist the community affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. This group consists of the laid-off workers and businesses experiencing stagnation or bankruptcy. “With a large number of people experiencing laid off. Does Prakerja program has been effective? Without assistance (I don’t think), it is possible. It requires encouragement. Thus, IKA UNS and UNS that has laudable MSME assistance and Pak Jamal often communicate with us. This is an opportunity to find a new opportunity,” Ganjar Pranowo stated.
In the event, the Central Java governor also explained the economic prospect of his province in 2021. In front of the UNS Rector, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, DK OJK RI Chairman, Prof. Wimboh Santoso, President Director of PT. Hutama Karya, Ir. Budi Harto, Apindo Chairman, Hariyadi Sukamdani, and Independent Commissioner of Bank DKI, Lukman Hakim, Ph. D, Ganjar Pranowo admitted that Central Java is optimistic in facing the new year of 2021.
This optimism is backed up by the Covid-19 vaccination program from the government rolled since early January 2021. He stated that vaccine is a new hope to control the spread of Sars-Cov-2 in Central Java. He mentioned that since vaccination started, there is a decline in the number of health workers infected by coronavirus’s new strain. Seven weeks before vaccination started, 200 health workers in Central Java were reported to get infected by Covid-19. This number dropped drastically to 170-140 and 27 people three weeks after the vaccination program started.
Ganjar Pranowo also shared the Central Java government’s strategy to revive the economy in front of 403 Wedangan IKA UNS participants. Included in the strategy is food independence, which is improved by increasing food productivity, fixing the distribution channel, improving food stability through food reserve barn, improving food diversification based on local resources, and optimizing the utilization of yard to increase Farmer Exchange Value.
As an education institution, UNS has an active role in assisting MSME in various regions, especially in Central Java. This assistance is an answer from UNS to implement Higher Education Tri Dharma, community service. Even amid the pandemic, UNS faculty members and students are actively assisting MSME in various regions and apply tight health protocol.
On a larger scale, UNS, through the Faculty of Economic and Business (FEB), delivered cash aids for the assisted villages in Cangkringan Village, Banyudono, Boyolali in August 2020. This aid was delivered in collaboration with Bank Jateng for Cangkringan Village which its 57 families need to conduct independent quarantine after tested positive for Covid-19. Humas UNS
Reporter: Yefta Christopherus AS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti