"MSMEs in South Sulawesi continue to increase despite the pandemic; in 2019, there were 940 thousand MSME units, then it rose to 1.2 million MSMEs in 2020, and 1.5 million MSME units in 2021," he noted at the Ulama Gathering Forum here on Saturday.
He said that the 1.5 million MSMEs have been asked to support the export of a number of key commodities in the area.
Support from MSMEs can significantly bolster economic growth in the province, where average growth is already above the national level, he added.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, South Sulawesi recorded a growth of 7.89 percent, or 5 percent higher than the national growth in the fourth quarter of 2021.
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"This is something to be proud of. Hence, we will give full support to MSMEs in general," Hartarto said.
At the same event, he also awarded financial assistance to 12 Islamic boarding schools to support MSMEs, as part of an effort to boost the people's economy and encourage efforts to restore the national economy.
This year, the government will provide higher budgetary support for economic recovery and COVID-19 handling efforts compared to last year as part of its push to eradicate extreme poverty by 2024, he said.
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Translator: Katriana
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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