Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia will repurpose underutilized government assets to support economic empowerment and small business development, Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar said Thursday.

The initiative aims to strengthen the role of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in driving the national economy.

Speaking at the 2025 Mandaya Awards in Jakarta, Iskandar said President Prabowo Subianto has directed that no public facility should remain idle and must be used to benefit the community.

“The president has instructed that unused government spaces be used to support the growth of community empowerment,” he said.

Earlier, Deputy Minister for MSMEs Helvi Moraza said the government is committed to expanding employment opportunities through MSME development to stimulate economic growth and improve public welfare.

Unused government facilities, particularly those in strategic areas, will be prioritized for this purpose.

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“We want MSMEs to become a real solution, and we are committed to facilitating their development. Government-owned facilities should prioritize MSME use,” Iskandar said.

He noted that access to affordable and strategic business locations remains one of the biggest challenges for small enterprises.

“Many MSMEs cannot afford to compete in expensive locations. This makes it difficult for them to grow and develop,” he added.

Iskandar stressed that repurposing idle assets will help reduce barriers for MSMEs and increase their participation in the economy.

“Empowering communities by utilizing unused government property is a concrete step toward boosting grassroots economic activity,” he said.

The minister also highlighted that many of the idle facilities are located in busy public areas and can be quickly adapted to support local businesses.

“There is no better way than to use these assets to empower MSMEs,” he added.

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Translator: Anita, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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