The most important matter in our working period is that we want to ensure that economic equality and balance can be achieved
Jakarta (ANTARA) - State-owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Erick Thohir said state-owned firms have fostered 204,609 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) actors and over the last 10 years have contributed Rp3,295 trillion to the state.

"Once I involved in SOEs, I was proud as they managed to foster 204,609 MSMEs,” he said in an online seminar titled ‘Career Talk University of Indonesia 2021’ here on Saturday.

In addition, he informed that SOEs had also contributed Rp3,295 trillion to the state over the last 10 years in the forms of taxes, dividends and others that have been used for people-centered government program.

"The most important matter in our working period is that we want to ensure that economic equality and balance can be achieved," he added.

Hence, the ministry had various programs, for instance the Fostering the Prosperous Family Economy (Mekaar) program run by state-owned financial services company PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM) Persero, the development of the state-owned energy firm PT Pertamina's small-scale gas station Pertashop in 10,000 sites.

Previously, Thohir had ensured that his administration would be supportive to the MSMEs programs and the community.

He stated that the work of the Cooperatives and SMEs Ministry had become more difficult as the COVID-19 pandemic crisis hit hard the MSMEs sectors which dominates Indonesia's economic structure.

Evaluating the 1998 monetary crisis, large companies and corporations were heavily affected, hence the SOEs Ministry has carried out a transformation that began with issuance of a Ministerial Regulation to encourage SOEs to open up to each other.

The initiative -- which has been in trial for more than one year -- has resulted in the consolidation of 43 companies from 12 BUMN clusters.

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Translator: Aji Cakti, Uyu Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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