Customs service offices in several regions cooperate with local governments to encourage increased exports. Head of the Sub-Directorate of Public Relations and Counseling Hatta Wardhana stated that his cooperation with the regional government focused on developing the capacity of small and medium industries (IKM), cooperatives, and export-oriented micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)," he said. "We believe that the potential for export commodities in various regions if it is collaborated with various export facilities owned by Customs and Excise will spur Indonesia's export growth," he said on Monday (23/5). Hatta said that the three offices that are actively coordinating with local governments are Customs and Excise in Pangkalpinang, Banjarmasin, and Sidoarjo. Through the Export Clinic Team, Pangkalpinang Customs and Excise synergizes with the Department of Trade, Cooperatives, and MSMEs in the Bangka Belitung Islands. This was done to capture the export potential of MSME actors.

The two parties discussed the export potential of local MSME commodities, synergies in training programs, current issues related to MSMEs, and their problems. The goal is to make it easier for business actors to carry out business processes so that they can carry out independent exports. One of the products that are ready for export is handicrafts from nipa palm sticks, with products made from laundry baskets, mirrors, to parcel boxes, souvenirs, and so on. "The export potential on Bangka Island is very large. It is hoped that this year, new MSMEs ready to export will grow. We continue to establish synergies with local governments to explore export potential in the Bangka Island region and improve the national economy," said Hatta. Customs and Excise launched a similar cooperation by holding a visit and discussion with the Mayor of Banjarmasin Ibnu Sina on May 20, 2022.

In the discussion, the mayor guaranteed the readiness of the Banjarmasin City Government to help MSME products with export potential so that they could enter the international market. The form of cooperation between Customs and the government is realized through the assistance of SMEs with export potential. For example, what was done by the Sidoarjo Customs and Excise Office and the Mojokerto Regency Trade Office. In the context of the MSME empowerment program, the two parties visited the workshop of PT Wangsa Adi Guna, an MSME that produces various wooden furniture products. The company has successfully exported its products to South Korea. By establishing a partnership with Customs and Excise and the Mojokerto Regency Government, the MSMEs are increasingly improving the quality of their products to meet the export market. "Currently, the company is conducting an exploration of the marketing of similar products for the American market," he said. A number of technical requirements must be prepared and fulfilled by PT Wangsa Adi Guna so that their products can penetrate the American market. The success of the company and optimizing the national economic recovery," he stressed. Furthermore, Hatta conveyed that the cooperation with local governments that have been and will be implemented will become an umbrella for various opportunities to increase MSME exports through several activities, such as socialization, training, and information exchange. " The collaboration between Customs and Excise and local governments is certain to be a driving force for the strengthening of MSMEs and the rise of cooperatives in various regions so that they are ready to try out the global market," he said.

Source: https://m.jpnn.com/news/bea-cukai-gandeng-pemda-dorong-peningkatan-ekspor-produk-umkm?page=3