The Department of Trade of Makassar City held the Makassar Export and Trade Expo to advance the entrepreneurial potential within Makassar. This was conveyed by Assistant 3, Muh Mario Said, representing the Mayor of Makassar during the Opening Ceremony of the 2023 Makassar Export and Trade Expo, hosted at Phinisi Point Mall on Saturday (16/12/2023). "Alongside various stakeholders, the Makassar City Government continuously endeavors to synergize efforts to unleash, enhance, and promote entrepreneurial potential and businesses. It aims to inspire and motivate the wider audience, particularly in fostering the enhancement and development of enterprises and industries," he stated. These activities aim to elevate the economic growth of the community through innovative products, services, and programs, which undoubtedly impact the overall welfare of society. "The Economic Growth Data of Makassar City has once again recorded positive figures, rebounding after the downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. It rose by 4.47% in 2021 and is now experiencing single-digit growth at 5.40% in 2022, surpassing the growth rates of the province and the nation," he continued.
The engagement of the community, particularly to bolster economic growth from macro to microeconomics, narrows the income inequality ratio in Makassar City.
Thus, the city administration intervenes in the community's economy, starting from grassroots levels. "Today, we witness the series of events at the 2023 Makassar Export and Trade Expo, which is an effort to enhance downstreaming for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), as President of Indonesia emphasized that the downstreaming program initiated by the government extends beyond the mining sector to include other sectors, including MSMEs," he added. Meanwhile, the Head of the Department of Trade of Makassar City, Arlin Ariesta, conveyed that the two-day event involved 40 tenants, aimed at enhancing and empowering Indonesian production, especially MSME/IKM (Small and Medium Enterprises/Indigenous Businesses) products. "We hope that with improved quality, the public's appreciation for domestic production will increase, thereby enhancing competitiveness in the global/international market," she expressed. Among the participating tenants were Tas Sutera Makassar, Kopi Ale, Mama Toko Kue, Dekranasda, Markisa Aurora, PT Duta Harapan Tunggal (Syrup DHT), and various other products.
