Once again, I entrust it to our MSME players. We must take a cue from Japan regarding the packaging. The packaging of Japanese products is really interesting
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, suggested Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) players to give due importance to product packaging.

"Once again, I entrust it to our MSME players. We must take a cue from Japan regarding the packaging. The packaging of Japanese products is really interesting," the minister noted in an online seminar in Jakarta on Saturday.

The minister laid emphasis on the need for innovations in packaging.

Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Erick Thohir had earlier highlighted the interest of Middle Eastern countries in this kind of investment in MSMEs or were also keen to see MSMEs products.

"With the network created by the Ministry of SOEs in the Middle East, I think we can penetrate many markets in the Middle East region. Training on the packaging, efficiency, cleanliness, taste, and those innovations is needed," he stated.

Minister Pandjaitan also advised large e-commerce companies, such as Shopee, to help train MSMEs in packaging, marketing, financing, and so on.

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin had earlier affirmed that MSMEs were the driving force in the endeavors to facilitate recovery of the national economy battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evidence of the government's concern for MSMEs is manifested in the allocation of budgets for the welfare of the community and MSMEs that reached half of the total budget for the National Economic Recovery Program (PEN).

The government allotted funds worth Rp695.2 trillion for the PEN Program, of which some Rp350 trillion was allocated to maintain the welfare level of the community and MSMEs.


EDITED BY INE

Translator: Aji C, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020