“We are looking at it from the perspective of creativity; there are marketing gimmicks that can be used,” Minister Abdurrahman said during the 2025 International Conference on Tourism, Gastronomy, and Destination (TGDIC) held in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Friday.
He emphasized that, ethically and legally, Indonesia respects the originality of globally recognized brands. However, he noted that in practice, some foreign producers replicate well-known products without using official brand labels.
Therefore, he said, law enforcement must be strengthened to prevent these second-tier quality goods from entering the Indonesian market illegally and competing unfairly with domestic MSME products.
The minister underscored the importance of empowering local MSME players and fostering creativity in product development.
In terms of financing, the Ministry reported that the government has allocated Rp300 trillion for the Smallholder Business Credit (KUR) program in 2025.
As of October 6, 2025, KUR disbursement had reached Rp206.2 trillion, distributed to 3.5 million borrowers. Credit allocated to the production sector has exceeded the 60 percent target, totaling Rp124.7 trillion.
“Why not create similar products with slightly altered brand names? It’s a gimmick, and we believe it can be effective,” he suggested.
The minister expressed hope that this approach could boost the performance of domestic MSME players, who serve as the backbone of the national economy.
He added that there are currently around 57 million MSMEs in Indonesia, contributing 61.2 percent to the gross domestic product (GDP) and absorbing 97 percent of the workforce.
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Translator: Dewa, Kenzu
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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