Since the BBI programme commenced on May 14, 2021, more than eight million MSMEs have joined online marketplaces, achieving a 100-percent increase in only four months
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Over 16 million Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have joined online marketplaces since the Proud of Indonesia-made Products (BBI) program started in May 2021, according Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

"Since the BBI programme commenced on May 14, 2021, more than eight million MSMEs have joined online marketplaces, achieving a 100-percent increase in only four months. Now, more than 16 million MSMEs have been accommodated by online marketplaces," Pandjaitan remarked at the commencement ceremony of the BBI Movement for East Kalimantan in Samarinda, viewed from here on Tuesday.

The minister expressed optimism that MSMEs entrepreneurs would continue to improve their products after joining online markets and encouraged relevant authorities to provide training to entrepreneurs.


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"I remember a friend in Washington, the US, ordered a product from a local entrepreneur in the online marketplace but found out that the arrived product was different from that displayed in their online store. This posed a difficulty for my friend because they intend to resell the product to other places," Pandjaitan recounted a friend's experience on a product quality issue.

Pandjaitan expects the incident to serve as a case study for ministers and relevant officials on the need to support MSMEs by providing product quality training.

"We hope East Kalimantan Governor Noor, Village Affairs Minister Iskandar, and Manpower Minister Fauziyah would encourage and train our MSMEs to improve and maintain their product quality," he noted.

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Continuous improvement in product quality is essential, especially for export products, as the nation's dignity is tied to the exported product, the coordinating minister affirmed.

"Our dignity is tied to our exported products, and hence, we should ensure that every product being delivered is of the best quality," he said.


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Translator: Ade Irma Junida, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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