Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Industry is targeting an increase in the number of new enterprises in the small and medium-sized industry (IKMs) to reach 12,000 in 2023, higher than last year's achievement of around 3,000 new IKMs.

The ministry's Director General of Small, Medium, and Miscellaneous Industries, Reni Yanita, noted in a statement here on Thursday that, in order to achieve the target, her side has made several efforts, including conducting technical guidance programs.

Yanita affirmed that the government is formulating a policy and plan for industrial development that is right on target in a bid to continue increasing the number of new IKMs.

According to her, IKMs are the drivers of the national economy with 4.4 million business units. Their contribution to the processing industry, in general, has reached 21.7 percent.

"Indonesia needs to develop the entrepreneurial spirit and ecosystem to increase employment," she stated.

Pushing entrepreneurial development is not only targeted at sectors that are already popular but also sectors with potential in raw materials and local culture, she said.

One example of the government's efforts is the digital literacy improvement guidance for herbal drinks entrepreneurs in Konawe District, Southeast Sulawesi, she added.

Yanita remarked that improvement in the entrepreneurs' competency through digital literacy is in line with the digitalization and implementation of Industry 4.0 initiated by the government in 2018.

The government continues to improve digital technology literacy to prepare industries to enter, adapt, and develop in the Industry 4.0 era.

"We continue to encourage and assist IKMs to conduct digital economy transformation, including the utilization of digital assets, e-commerce, and technology in supporting their business process," she stated.

Knowledge of technology transformation and digital media is deemed crucial for new IKMs in the herbal drinks industry, which is one of the industries with high demand.

"Through adequate digital literacy, they can directly use technology effectively and efficiently," she remarked.

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Translator: Ade Irma, Raka Adji
Editor: Anton Santoso
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