The fulfillment or distribution center has been readied so that when any MSME sells on social media, it is directly connected with the logistics system.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs Teten Masduki has said that food products offered by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for Papua's PON National Games XX still require curation.

The curation would involve packaging improvements and creating more attractive brand designs, he informed while making an online statement here on Thursday.

Another obstacle that the MSMEs are facing is low access to financing, the minister said.

MSMEs account for just 1.4 percent of the banking credit in Papua, Masduki noted. Many Papuan MSMEs are not yet bankable or can meet the bank requirements to get business credit, he said.

"We still need mentoring and training," he remarked.

Currently, there is a Smesco program in the eastern hub devoted to helping eastern Indonesian MSMEs so that MSMEs in Papua will have product competitiveness, he said.

The Smesco in Jakarta is selling and displaying top MSME products of Papua and West Papua province, he said.

"The products will be sold online. However, if people want to see and hold the goods first, they can come to the product showcase in Smesco (Jakarta)," the minister informed.

Related news: Papuan entrepreneurs roped in for PON, Peparnas: MSMEs Office

Through the Smesco, Indonesians outside Papua will be able to shop and consume products from Papua and West Papua province during the PON National Games XX, he highlighted.

Masduki said his ministry is currently preparing the Smesco Noken Movement to encourage department stores to sell products from the two provinces.

The preparations will involve mentoring, product curation, packaging improvement, and branding, he added.

The Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs intends to push the digitization of market traders in Papua and West Papua so they can go online and go into business on social media as soon as possible, he said.

The minister claimed that a fulfillment or distribution center has been readied so that when any MSME sells on social media, it is directly connected with the logistics system.

Related news: Tourism Ministry hopes PON National Games XX can revive tourism sector



Translator: M Alatas, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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