The subregion includes Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) for the 2025-2028 period.
"MSMEs are the backbone of the Indonesian economy. They have proven their competitiveness through flexibility, creativity, and resilience during times of crisis," said Bagus Rachman, Deputy for Medium Enterprises of the MSME Ministry in Badung, Tuesday.
Indonesia officially assumed the chairmanship, marked by the 12th BIMP-EAGA MSME Development Working Group meeting hosted by the MSME Ministry.
On that occasion, Rachman expressed his appreciation for Brunei Darussalam's three-year chairmanship of the economic cooperation forum and emphasized Indonesia's readiness to bring a new spirit of collaboration to strengthening MSMEs in the region.
He noted that many challenges remain to be overcome together to advance MSMEs in the region.
As the new chair, he added, Indonesia is emphasizing a number of priority programs aligned with the national agenda, including strengthening the digital ecosystem.
Furthermore, facilitating product legality and certification, improving access to financing, expanding domestic and international markets, and developing cluster-based business partnerships through the MSME Holding Program.
Specifically in the plantation sector, he added, Indonesia is highlighting strengthening the cocoa supply chain as a leading commodity with the potential to strengthen regional cooperation.
“We have around 30.1 million MSMEs who play a significant role in absorbing labor, generating income, and encouraging local innovation,” he added.
On that occasion, delegates from Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, and the Philippines also visited a medium-scale cocoa processing business on the Island of the Gods.
The visit aimed to strengthen the potential for supply chain partnerships among MSMEs in the region and to showcase opportunities for Indonesian cocoa exports, which have already entered neighboring markets.
The meeting also featured 10 local MSMEs who showcased their superior products as a concrete demonstration of the contribution of small and medium enterprises to supporting a sustainable economy.
BIMP-EAGA serves as an important platform for sharing experiences, aligning policies, and formulating joint strategies to enable MSMEs to compete in regional and global markets.
Founded in 1994, the forum is a subregional cooperation initiative focused on accelerating socio-economic development in remote and underdeveloped regions across its four member countries.
This collaboration encompasses improving connectivity, trade, investment, tourism, and other strategic sectors.
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Translator: Dewa Ketut Sudiarta Wiguna, Cindy Frishanti Octavi
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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