IDNEWSNOW.COM, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi visited Italy, England and the United Arab Emirates in a series of events to attend the G20 Summit in Rome. On this occasion, Jokowi didn’t board the presidential aircraft but a Garuda Indonesia airplane due to security and efficiency reasons.
“It is an honor for Garuda to be the first mode of air transportation used by the President on his first overseas trip in the pandemic. This proves the quality of its health protocols and appreciation for all Garuda’s employees,” says State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir on Friday, October 2021.
Erick said Garuda had been chosen to accompany Jokowi’s visit due to its good health protocol. He praised all crew for applying a strict health protocol during the flight. Furthermore he also explains that the President’s visit needs an aircraft that can travel long distances.Garuda’s owned Boeing 777-300ER fulfilled the requirements.
Presidential Secretariat Chief Heru Budi Hartono said Garuda Indonesia had been selected for the trip on considerations of time efficiency, budget saving, and health protocols.
“It takes 13 hours without transit to reach Rome using this plane,” he said, adding that the Presidential Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) would require transit. During transit, the party would need to sterilize the waiting rooms, run PCR tests for waiters at the transit points and prepare foods and drinks according to regulations. “This is the President’s first overseas visit in the pandemic, we need to be strict with the health protocols including in in-person meetings during the transit,” says Heru.
Besides Erick, there were five other ministers accompanying Jokowi. They are Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.
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FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA
