Because it creates jobs and strengthens our economy.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, has asked stakeholders to help ensure the target of bringing 30 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) into the digital ecosystem by 2024 is reached.

At the launch of the Proud of Indonesian Products Movement (Gernas BBI) Papua 2022 themed "Binar Digital Papua,” which was followed online from Jakarta on Wednesday, Pandjaitan said that 11.8 million MSMEs have joined the digital ecosystem as of July 2022 under the program, which was initiated in May 2020.

“Now, the total MSMEs onboard (the digital ecosystem) has reached 19.8 million units. In his remarks on August 16, the President has said that Indonesia can have 30 million MSMEs (in the ecosystem) by 2024. Therefore, we have to be serious in pursuing the target," he added.

Gernas BBI would not only encourage MSME digitalization but also create jobs, hence it would help alleviate poverty and reduce stunting, he said.

"Because it creates jobs and strengthens our economy. I hope we can understand this," he remarked.

Gernas BBI Papua 2022 will seek to encourage the establishment of a digital ecosystem for the small and medium-scale industry in Papua, according to the Ministry of Communication and Information.

Earlier on August 16, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had said that Indonesia is targeting to increase the number of MSMEs entering the digital ecosystem to 30 million by 2024.

"As many as 19 million MSMEs have joined the digital ecosystem, and it is targeted that 30 million MSMEs will join the digital economy by 2024," the President announced at the annual session of the Indonesian People's Consultative (MPR) Assembly and the joint session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).

He emphasized that MSMEs must be continuously supported to level up.

"We continue to boost economic digitization, which has led to the development of two decacorns and nine unicorns in order to empower MSMEs," he remarked.

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Translator: Ade Irma Junida, Sri Haryati
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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