In the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, Jakarta Empowerment, Children Protection, and Population Control (PPAPP) Agency continues to increase economic growth by supporting Jakpreneurs productivity through mentoring.

Jakarta PPAPP Agency Head, Tuty Kusumawati mentioned, until April 2020, her side has trained 3,207 small entrepreneurs in various sectors, such as textile, handcrafting, food and beverage or catering, and grocery.

"PPAPP Agency provides mentors from urban village level to sub-district level. Thus assistance can be given optimally to the entrepreneurs. We want them to keep productive in the midst of pandemic," she conveyed, Tuesday (5/5).

According to her, Jakpreneurs can get easy access to capital from PKK Melati Jaya Cooperative via Bank DKI. Besides, her side also opens online consultation, provides assistance for getting halal licensing and certification, soft skills and hard skills training through virtual workshops.

"We have online workshops. In the near future, we will provide it with theme of financial management by inviting speakers from banking sector. Through this assistance, we want the coached entrepreneurs to be able to contribute for economic growth," she explained.

According to her COVID-19 pandemic has changed people's life that has been going well. It affected all sectors including business sectors, especially coached entrepreneurs.

"Most of them get the impacts. Some of them can survive even though their income decreases," she expressed.

She informed, number of coached entrepreneurs divert their business activities, especially those engaged in textile sector since they produce cloth masks.

In general, cloth masks are sold based on order. Some entrepreneurs sold the mask online or participated in mass producing of cloth mask which initiated by Jakarta Government.

"In selling cloth masks, they should not exceed the market prices to help the underprivileged people while supporting the community to curb COVID-19," she said.

Because this month is Ramadan month, coached entrepreneurs who produce foods, beverages, cookies, and clothes remain productive.

"They sell their products online or sell takjil on the road by following PSBB regulations and health protocols," she closed.