Tanjungpinang - The Covid-19 pandemic that hit Indonesia has brought Malaysia to bar Indonesian from entering the country. However, this has not had an impact on export and import activities in Riau Islands.

The head of the BPS Riau Islands, Agus Sudibyo, said that export and import activities both from and to Riau Islands with the aim of Malaysia had not been obstacles so far.

"Export and import from Riau Islands to Malaysia do not affect. This was because so far there has been more in and out of goods, not humans," said Agus Sudibyo in Tanjungpinang, Tuesday (9/8/2020).

Agus did not guarantee that the impact of the Malaysian state policy would affect Riau Islands economy. He said that closures related to human mobility will affect consumption patterns and the economy.

"Indeed, BPS currently does not have data on the economic impact, we only have data on Malaysian foreign tourists visiting the Riau Islands and data on export and import from/to Riau Islands," he said.

Based on BPS data, Agus continued, until July 2020 Malaysia was still the second-largest oil and gas export destination country after Singapore.

Riau Islands' oil and gas and non-oil exports to Malaysia during the January-July 2020 period reached $ 219 million in US currency.

Likewise with imports from Malaysia to the Riau Islands, until July 2020 Malaysia became the seventh-largest source of oil and gas imports and the second-largest source of non-oil and gas imports.

"The total imports of oil and gas and non-oil and gas from Malaysia to Riau Islands during the January-July 2020 period amounted to $ 327 million," said Agus.