I urge to help our MSMEs in the online market because 50 percent of the products sold in e-commerce are still imported products
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Teten Masduki urged internet marketers to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to enter the digital ecosystem.

Internet marketers could seek what the people need, such as creating technology application to facilitate marketing, Masduki stated during the Indonesia Digital MeetUp 2022 here, Thursday.

Given that several of Indonesia's MSMEs are not yet connected to the digital ecosystem and are not familiar with digital technology, Masduki called for the need for internet marketers by MSMEs.


Related news: 19 mln MSMEs have gone digital: Minister Pandjaitan

"I urge to help our MSMEs in the online market because 50 percent of the products sold in e-commerce are still imported products," he noted.

This is despite the fact that many of Indonesia's domestic products are already well-made. Hence, all MSMEs, no matter where they are from and/or how small they are, should enter the digital ecosystem, he stated.

The minister also underlined the importance of MSMEs in Indonesia, given that 99 percent of Indonesia's economy is still dominated by MSMEs and 97 percent of jobs are provided by micro enterprises.

The government already supports the development of local brands, with a policy in which 40 percent, or around Rp400 trillion, be used for the procurement of government goods and service from MSMEs products.

This policy opens up the opportunity for the creation of around two million jobs or drive economic growth by 1.8 percent, according to Statistics Indonesia's (BPS') calculation.

Related news: Supporting entry of Papua MSMEs in digital ecosystem: minister

Currently, Indonesia has a state budget of Rp2,700 trillion. If this continues to improve, then it means that the government has more to spend.

President Joko Widodo recently opened the opportunity of government goods and service procurement spending that should come entirely from local products, Masduki stated.

If the government buys these local products, then there is an opportunity for producers to improve the quality of their production as is the case in any country.

"The government understands this. Hence, it continues to buy them. Indonesians should also buy MSMEs products," he remarked.


Related news: G20 Presidency brings focus on MSME role in economic recovery

Related news: Papuan MSMEs' product quality at par with Javan counterparts: Minister

Translator: M Baqir I A, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2022