The digitalization of MSMEs should be increased based on the fact that 58 percent of Indonesian citizens have conducted digital transactions of high economic value
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Communication and Informatics Johnny G. Plate confirmed the restoration of normalcy in the activities of 84 percent of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia.

“It is recorded that 84 percent of MSMEs managed to return to their activities,” the minister noted in a press release, quoted, Friday.

According to Plate, the government continues to make efforts to recover the economy through several programs that involve the MSMEs sector in Indonesia.

The MSMEs sector is one of the sectors to have been hit the hardest by the pandemic. The decline in MSMEs activities has had a major impact, as the sector has a high absorption of labor and investment. MSMEs in Indonesia, currently reaching 64.2 million, are said to be able to generate 60.42 percent of the total investment in the country.

Under the National Economic Recovery (PEN) program, the government has specially allocated Rp162.40 trillion, distributed through several programs, to help MSMEs survive the pandemic.

“From the budget, as of Friday (October 1), some 42.1 percent has been realized, or a total of Rp68.43 trillion," the minister stated.

Minister Plate also encouraged MSMEs to migrate to various e-commerce platforms available in Indonesia. The utilization of digital space that can be accessed by several people throughout the country can help MSMEs survive the pandemic, he assessed.

"The digitalization of MSMEs should be increased based on the fact that 58 percent of Indonesian citizens have conducted digital transactions of high economic value," he noted.

To empower MSMEs, Plate spoke of his ministry conducting digital ecosystem training for one thousand MSME players at five Super Priority Tourism Areas (DPSP) and districts that receive the Telecommunication and Information Accessibility Agency (BAKTI) infrastructure.

"The government is encouraging cross-party collaboration through the Bangga Buatan Indonesia (Proudly Indonesian Made) movement and the Bangga Berwisata di Indonesia (Proud to Travel in Indonesia) movement," he added.

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Translator: Suryanto, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
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