Every IKM player should acquire leadership and technical skills as well as have creativity and originality and produce innovationJakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Industry announced that several frozen food small and medium industry (IKM) players marked a nearly 50-percent spike in sales during the July 2020-July 2021 period amid the pandemic.
"IKM players have adapted to new habits during this pandemic. This has brought them new opportunities and benefits during the pandemic," Acting Director General of Small and Medium Industries Reni Yanita stated here on Friday.
Yanita remarked that in addition to adaptation and innovation, the frozen food IKM utilizes online sales facilities and infrastructure to market their products to the wider community.
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One of the surviving IKM players during this pandemic is Yogyakarta's Mazaraat Artisan Cheese that experienced an over 60-percent increase in retail and online sales.
Yanita noted that online sales had helped IKM sectors to survive and also increase their business income.
Based on the results of a survey by the Directorate General of IKMA, the problems encountered by the IKM sector during the COVID-19 pandemic are declining market demand, difficulties pertaining to availability and access to sources of raw materials, decreased production capacity, temporary postponement of production, temporary layoff of employees, and capital requirements to pay employees.
The survey also found that at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, nearly one million business actors and some three million workers were affected by the pandemic.
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In the current complex situation, IKMs are urged to continue to improve their expertise and skills in industrial business management.
"Every IKM player should acquire leadership and technical skills as well as have creativity and originality and produce innovation. These soft skills are the top 10 skills that must be mastered by 2025 according to the World Economic Forum," she remarked.
With the added skills, IKMs are expected to compete, survive, and develop their businesses.
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They are also urged to adapt to new developments and be able to read emerging opportunities and trends that are preferred by consumers.
"IKM players can take advantage of programs and facilities prepared by the government. The Directorate General of IKMA of the Ministry of Industry continues to provide assistance and also hold various competitions, as well as offer awards to accelerate IKM businesses and to encourage collaboration between industry players," she added.
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Translator: Sella P G, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
