During a meeting with Minister of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Maman Abdurrahman here on Monday, he revealed that the illegal drug trade is estimated to generate up to Rp500 trillion, or around USD30.6 billion, every year.
"The drug problem is getting more complex, affecting not only health and safety but also the community's economy," Hukom said, according to a statement released here on Tuesday.
He explained that drug lords often exploit people's financial situation, for example, they convince fish farmers to become drug couriers by promising payments of up to Rp40 million per kilogram.
He also pointed out that combating the increasing use of social media for illegal drug marketing requires a more integrated strategy.
According to the BNN, approximately 312 thousand teenagers in Indonesia have been exposed to drugs. As a concrete action, the agency is concentrating on tackling the problem in three drug-affected areas of Jakarta—Kampung Boncos, Kampung Bahari, and Kampung Permata.
Hukom argued that simply offering skills training to former drug offenders is not sufficient.
"Without access to markets and continuous business support, they could relapse. Therefore, collaboration with the Ministry of MSMEs is crucial," he explained.
Meanwhile, MSMEs Minister Abdurrahman emphasized that efforts to eliminate drugs must be coupled with creating economic opportunities for vulnerable communities.
As an example, he cited Thailand's success in transforming the Golden Triangle, previously a major opium production center, into a macadamia nut production center.
"A similar approach can be applied in Indonesia with the right strategy," he said.
Many government and private sector programs are not making a significant impact because MSMEs are often treated as targets for corporate social responsibility (CSR) with a focus on social aspects, he observed.
Therefore, he insisted that the perception of MSMEs as merely a social responsibility must change, and they must be seen as part of a sustainable business ecosystem.
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Translator: Agatha V, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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