As a result, a lot of products have made their way into the e-catalogJakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has instructed his staff to ensure that the electronic catalogs (e-catalogs) of local products should be accessible to the government.
"He (President) orders (his staff) to ensure the e-catalogs of local products (be) accessible to the government," Head of Government Goods and Services Procurement Policy Agency (LKPP) Abdullah Azwar Anas remarked after attending a limited meeting with the president to discuss the acceleration of digital transformation for the procurement of goods and services here, Thursday.
E-Catalog is an online shopping application developed by LKPP that provides various types of local products and commodities required by the government. Anas recalled that during his 10-year tenure as district head, it was very difficult to make e-catalogs of local products owing to the large number of requirements.
Currently, the LKPP has cut several requirements and all districts and cities have e-catalogs.
"As a result, a lot of products have made their way into the e-catalog," he explained.
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Anas affirmed that the LKPP had also cut short a lengthy chain related to the process of displaying products in e-catalogs, from earlier eight processes to only two processes.
"Hence, in the past, there were only 52 thousand products in one year, though now, there are 600 thousand products in one year for e-catalogs. Meanwhile, online stores currently have 708,835 products, and there are 303,000 merchants," he remarked.
He said the president had instructed that the creation of e-catalogs should no longer be complicated and should be integrated from one region to another.
"Hence, the LKPP along with the Ministry of Finance, the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), and the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment are working together. The financial system is now integrated," he remarked.
He said the government had to purchase MSME products through a Fund Disbursement Order (SP2D), except for products under Rp50 million. Currently, with the Government Credit Card (KKP), it is possible to purchase MSME products in e-catalogs.
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Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan earlier urged micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to use e-catalogs to reap the benefits of participating in government procurement.
Speaking at a National Movement for Proudly Made in Indonesia (Gernas BBI) event in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Friday, he urged regional governments to create e-catalogs to assist more MSMEs and enable them to partake in the procurement of government- and state-owned facilities and infrastructure.
"I request the heads of districts to (please) make local e-catalogs. That (will facilitate) the creation of each region," he stated.
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The government could save up to 20-25 percent of its budget during the procurement of goods by using e-catalogs in lieu of the procurement of goods and services through tenders, he pointed out.
Moreover, clear and transparent sales and pricing schemes can contribute to efforts to prevent corruption.
"E-catalogs do not need tender. (Their) prices (are listed) clearly, (and you can) save up (budget, too), (and you also get to) avoid corruption. (You) can save up to 20 to 25 percent through e-catalogs," he remarked.
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Translator: Rangga P, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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