We must seriously defend MSMEs because they support the national economy. Their products are not inferior to imported products from other countries.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan urged Indonesians to purchase products made locally by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) at the commemoration of National Online Shopping Day here on Tuesday.

Hasan said that MSMEs contribute 60 percent to the national gross domestic product so they need to be supported by the government and the community.

"We must seriously defend MSMEs because they support the national economy. Their products are not inferior to imported products from other countries," he said at the National Online Shopping Day event and campaign to promote buying local products "Beli Lokal."

The number of Indonesian MSMEs is continuing to grow every year, he noted.

Therefore, he said, this positive trend needs to be supported by the adoption of digital technology to expand the MSME market.

He added that the government has issued Ministerial Regulation No. 31/2023 regarding Licensing, Advertising, Coaching, and Supervision of Business Actors in Trade through Electronic Systems.

The regulation has been issued so that trading through electronic systems can be fair, healthy, and beneficial, as well as oriented toward consumer protection.

"We need to arrange it so the technology can be win-win and beneficial, able to support MSMEs and domestic industries to go international," Hasan said.

Furthermore, the Trade Minister lauded the collaboration between Tokopedia and TikTok to provide an e-commerce platform that prioritizes local products.

According to him, all stakeholders, including e-commerce platforms, need to collaborate to improve the Indonesian economy.

He emphasized that the government is not anti-import, but wants to empower and advance MSMEs, the backbone of the Indonesian economy.

"Do not let e-commerce kill MSMEs and local industries. We want to progress and develop together," he said.

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Translator: Adimas P, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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