Masduki noted that the acceleration of digital transformation for MSMEs must be pursued since these business actors were proven to have better resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"By involving G20 countries and national and multinational business actors, today's dialogue can bring fresh ideas, innovations, and opportunities for further collaboration in developing a digital economy ecosystem that is stronger and inclusive as well as supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” Masduki noted while opening the G20 side event, "B20 Indonesia Digital Economy to Support SDGs," held virtually from Jakarta on Monday.
B20 is the official dialogue forum for the global business community for providing practical policy recommendations from a business viewpoint to the G20.
Three topics to be discussed at B20 comprise the development of a digital ecosystem, the digital economy, and efforts to use both to achieve the SDGs. Delegates from the Great Britain and India will arrive in Bali for several series of events.
Indonesia, through the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, as the host of the event, also held an Entrepreneurship Financial Fiesta.
At the event, startups will present their business plans to 39 national and global venture companies, with focus on the seven strategic SME sectors of agriculture, fisheries, education, health, tourism, maritime, and logistics, the minister stated.
The ministry also held e-business matchmaking for SMEs in the ASEAN region through the ASEAN Access platform.
Masduki, in his keynote speech, during the opening ceremony, explained that the Indonesian government chose the digital economy theme since it aligned with the focus of the Indonesian Presidency's agenda at the G20.
"The focus of Indonesia's Presidency in G20 is digital transformation, specifically preparing a new landscape of cooperation between countries and all stakeholders in ensuring mutual prosperity in the digital era," he stated.
On the same occasion, Masduki remarked that MSMEs in Indonesia contributed 61 percent to the national gross domestic product (GDP). The current condition showed that 86 percent of MSME players depended on the internet to run their businesses.
Thus, he stated that the MSMEs sector has an important role in the digital economy map in Indonesia.
Related news: MSME product consistency, services vital after entering marketplace
Related news: Transformation of MSMEs basis to optimize digital economy: Minister
Translator: Genta Tenri M, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
