This is an opportunity for local MSME businesses and domestic industry; that is why shops are also making good use of digital platforms.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Trade is ready to arrange training for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) so that they can sell their products using digital platforms, Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan has said.

"The Ministry of Trade trains market traders as well as MSME entrepreneurs. We train them, and we will meet later with the digital platform (parties) to be trained," Hasan informed after visiting traders at Tanah Abang Market, Central Jakarta, on Friday.

He explained that MSME players will receive free training on how to sell products on digital platforms as well as techniques for packaging and displaying products to attract more customer interest.

Hasan said e-commerce platforms' decision to adjust business operations after the issuance of the Minister of Trade's Regulation Number 31 of 2023 can be used as an opportunity by MSMEs to start selling online.

"This is an opportunity for local MSME businesses and domestic industry; that is why shops are also making good use of digital platforms," he said.

The development of digital platforms as a medium for commerce, according to the minister, is something that cannot be avoided, so conventional traders are expected to take advantage of it.

"We invite shop owners who are offline to also sell online because digital platforms are impossible to avoid; it is a trade that is like that today and in the future," he said.

The Minister of Trade's Regulation Number 31 of 2023 (Permendag 31/2023) concerning business licensing, advertising, guidance, and supervision of business actors in trading through electronic systems regulates a number of aspects, such as the separation between social media and social commerce.

The regulation also sets a minimum price of US$100 for finished goods from abroad that can be sold directly by traders to Indonesia via cross-border e-commerce platforms.

It also provides a positive list or a list of goods from overseas that are allowed to directly enter Indonesia via e-commerce platforms.

The regulation lays down special requirements for foreign traders operating in domestic markets, namely they need to submit proof of business legality from the country of origin, comply with standards (particularly Indonesian National Standards/SNI) and halal requirements, include Indonesian language labels on products originating abroad, and state the origin of delivery of goods.

Furthermore, it prohibits marketplaces and social commerce from acting as producers, as well as controlling of data by electronic trading system operators (PPMSE) and affiliates.

PPMSE's obligation is to ensure that there is no misuse of user data by PPMSE or affiliated companies.

The Minister of Trade's regulation is the result of a revision of Minister of Trade's Regulation Number 50 of 2023, which aims to protect MSME players who are unable to compete with social commerce platforms because of predatory pricing.

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Translator: Farhan A, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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