“Our (government) target of up to 15 million in early 2021 must be completed. But, we will make the next targets. So, if (in) 2020, it could reach 12 million, then later in 2021, we expect it to reach 20 million,” Ma'ruf Amin said while participating in a virtual dialogue from his official residence in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The government, through the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (Kemenkop UKM), is continuing to verify data on micro-entrepreneurs, he noted.
From the initial data of 60 million business actors, Ma'ruf observed, only 9.16 million micro entrepreneurs were recorded as of September, 2020. The number of productive social assistance recipients will increase in the second phase scheduled for December this year, he said.
“The plan is that the second phase until December could target 12-15 million (social assistance recipients). The budget provided by the government is Rp36.2 trillion for 15 million micro businesses. The rest will be continued in 2021,” he informed.
Data verification of micro business actors is being coordinated by the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises.
Cooperative offices, State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), Regional-Owned Enterprises (BUMD), and banks are validating data.
To obtain productive social assistance, micro business actors have to meet some criteria: they must not have received financing from financial institutions, they must hold a business identification number (NIB), and they must not be a part of a state civil apparatus (ASN), members of the military (TNI), members of the National Police, or employees of BUMN / BUMD.
“This is the goal (of the program): to provide MSEs (financial aid) to move and develop,” the Vice President said.
The verification of data on productive social assistance recipients is also important to prevent recipients from obtaining aid more than once, Ma'ruf said, given that several social assistance programs have been launched by the Government for the community to help it cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Related news: Private sector participation crucial for economic recovery: official
Related news: Strike balance between health, economy while restoring public welfare
Translator: Fransiska, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
