MSMEs must become the drivers of regional economies amid the implementation of community activity restrictions, he said. The fate of many people, from the lower to middle class, rests on small entrepreneurs, he pointed out.
"The main thing is that lower-level MSMEs must have incentives. The government must think about this incentive," Gobel said at a mass vaccination program in Kalideres, West Jakarta, on Wednesday.
Small enterprises must get incentives just like their larger counterparts, he said.
For instance, culinary MSMEs, which are loved by many people, must get government support, he expounded.
"The government must be able to provide guidance to (culinary) MSMEs such as how to sell healthier, better food. This must be encouraged, given to the community," Gobel stressed.
This would help people from the middle to lower economic groups during the enforcement of community activity restrictions, he said.
Meanwhile, Nuraini Silviana from the West Jakarta sub-department for industry, trade, cooperatives, small and medium enterprises (PPKUKM) appealed to the public to become MSME actors amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Silviana said that the emergence of more MSME actors can help the people's economy, especially those who have lost jobs during the pandemic.
MSME actors will receive assistance in starting an enterprise, she assured.
The West Jakarta city government will arrange job training for prospective MSME actors, she informed. The training facilities will be provided to the private sector in collaboration with the PPKUKM sub-department, she added.
MSMEs products will also be certified so that they can be sold to a wider market, she informed.
"Later on, our facilities (will include) certification, IPR, so, if it has been fostered by SMEs, God willing, there will be permits," said Silviana.
In addition, products made by the MSME actors will also be distributed at official outlets so that they can be sold more easily in the market, she said. Residents who wish to start SMEs only need to come to the sub-district to register, she added.
She said she expects eight thousand MSMEs to be launched in West Jakarta in 2021, which would help bring down the poverty and unemployment rate.
"Our target is eight thousand MSMEs from eight sub-districts in West Jakarta," she remarked.
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Translator: Walda Marison, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
