Speaking at the Indonesian Prison Product and Art (IPPA) Festival in Jakarta on Monday, Minister of Cooperatives and MSMEs Maman Abdurrahman announced that several initiatives have been planned to support this effort, including the formation of a dedicated working group.
In a statement issued by his office on Tuesday, the minister said the working group will advocate for amendments to Law No. 20 of 2008 on MSMEs to allow certain convict-run businesses to gain official recognition as MSMEs.
"This initiative reflects our genuine concern for inmates with entrepreneurial potential. Our goal is to ensure that these citizens can benefit from future government policies related to MSME development," Abdurrahman said.
He also revealed plans to leverage a digital platform, Sapa UMKM, to identify and track prisoner-run businesses.
"Through this platform, we can systematically map MSME activities, including those managed by inmates under the supervision of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. This will make it easier to implement targeted empowerment programs," he added.
Abdurrahman emphasized his ministry's commitment to working closely with the Directorate General of Corrections to provide guidance and support for inmates to develop entrepreneurial skills, become self-reliant, and actively contribute to the economy.
He also expressed appreciation for the ministry’s role in organizing the IPPA Festival, calling it a demonstration of the government's commitment to helping inmates build better futures.
Meanwhile, Minister of Law and Human Rights Agus Andrianto highlighted that the festival was intended to foster the entrepreneurial spirit among prisoners in correctional facilities.
He expressed hope that such initiatives would empower inmates and enable them to contribute meaningfully to productive sectors and industries.
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Translator: Shofi A, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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