"We will make PLUT more effective to help MSMEs develop their business," Teten Masduki informed here on Friday.
Through PLUT, MSMEs can gain access to financing, markets, and increase the competitiveness of their products, he explained.
According to Masduki, in almost all regions, MSMEs are facing the same problems concerning capital, product quality, marketing, production, and human resources.
"Many problems are faced by MSMEs, such as access to financing, product quality, as well as production technology, and distribution permit certification," he noted.
Therefore, MSMEs throughout Indonesia need to be empowered to increase their contribution to the regional economy and the society's welfare, the minister said.
"MSMEs need sustainable assistance," Masduki remarked.
He accompanied Vice President Ma'ruf Amin on a working visit to Palu city, Central Sulawesi from January 6–7, 2022. One of the agendas of the visit was to review economic recovery and MSME empowerment in the city.
During the visit, Masduki accompanied Amin to an MSME exhibition at the Central Sulawesi Governor's Office, in Palu city on Friday to review MSME products.
One MSME business owner from Palu city, Masdina Daud, told Amin and Masduki that among the obstacles he faced in developing his business was finding human resources.
"It is very important to have training for developing MSME products, but for several years there has been no training," said Daud, who produces rattan handicrafts, which are among products with high economic value.
He said he was still producing handicrafts manually using tools, thus, his production was very limited.
"Our production per year is one thousand pieces, in the form of souvenir products, chairs, tables, and so on which are still processed manually," he informed.
Daud said he hoped that the government would empower MSMEs by enabling access to machines for developing their products.
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Translator: Muhammad Hajiji, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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