Director general of domestic trade at the ministry, Isy Karim, said that the activity has a strategic role to attract more customers to shopping centers.
"We hope that this can involve many micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and support the Proudly Made in Indonesia program by (promoting) buying domestic products," he added at the launch of the shopping festival at the ministry's office in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Karim said that the festival must be utilized well by business actors.
He urged MSMEs and domestic entrepreneurs to enhance creativity and add value to their products to increase consumer interest.
"We encourage MSMEs, creative economy, and domestic product entrepreneurs throughout Indonesia to increase the value of creativity and the quality of their products so that they have a greater opportunity to enter our shopping centers," he said.
Chairperson of the Indonesian Shopping Center Management Association (APPBI), Alphonzus Wijaja, informed that the activity aims to increase the number of retail visitors, optimize the number of transactions, and accelerate economic growth.
He is optimistic that the 12-day event will boost the number of consumer visits to shopping centers across Indonesia to 100 million, and lead to potential transactions of up to at least Rp125 trillion (about US$7.6 billion).
"So, if this target is achieved, I think it can boost retail trade since there is lack of purchasing power currently," he added.
"It is hoped that this can help overcome the times we are facing because actually this is entering the low season, that's what we have to encourage," Wijaja continued.
ISF 2024 will be held from August 8–18, 2024, at shopping centers across Indonesia that are members of APPBI.
The activity will feature an exhibition of domestic products and MSMEs, a culinary festival of typical Indonesian cuisine, art performances, and discounts.
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Translator: Maria Cicilia Galuh Prayudhia, Cindy Frishanti Oct
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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