Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, Teten Masduki said the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs is synergizing with the National Crafts Council (Dekranas) and collaborating with WhatsApp and Indonesian SMEs in accelerating the digital capabilities of SMEs which will launch the Growing Jagowan Training Chatbot. He explained that the UKMJagowan.id website was launched to make it easier for Indonesian people to find quality MSME brands from various regions in one place. "These programs are important to ensure that MSME actors get the right support and can reap the benefits of changing consumer behavior to the online realm, including shopping," said Teten in an official statement, Jakarta, Monday (5/9). The growing Jagowan training chatbot is designed to simplify and make training more accessible to MSME players from all over Indonesia. MSME players will be able to practice on their own using various modules covering various topics, such as effective digital marketing, how to optimize WhatsApp Business for product promotion and boost sales, how to use various channels for business digitization, and how to get certification for export. At the end of the training, participants will be evaluated and eligible MSME actors can receive promotional support at UKMJagowan.id. "With millions of Indonesians who have used WhatsApp in their daily lives, the use of this platform is certainly a step that should be taken to bring MSMEs into the digital realm," explained Teten. Thanks to this collaboration, Kemenkop has been successfully trained by more than 400 MSME facilitators affiliated with the Kemenkop SME. "These facilitators will train other MSME players to help digitalize their businesses and gain wider market access opportunities," he said.
On the other hand, the government's target is to encourage digitalization by 2024 as many as 30 million MSMEs, so far around 19 million MSME players have gone digital, he said. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have proven to be essential instruments in maintaining national economic stability in the midst of various crisis shocks. The MSME sector has also made a significant contribution to GDP and employment, so that the Government continues to provide support as a form of siding with the progress of MSMEs. "MSMEs are one of the basic foundations of the nation's economy that are solid and able to survive during the Covid-19 pandemic," said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto in his statement, Sunday (4/9/2022). One of the efforts to provide support to MSMEs is carried out by encouraging the strengthening of the MSME and e-commerce ecosystem, namely through Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation. The enactment of the Job Creation Law aims to facilitate access to licensing, supply chains, business development, financing, and market access for MSME actors. “The government also provides ease of doing business for MSMEs. This breakthrough was made through the Copyright Act. This effort is continuously carried out by the Government so that our economy becomes more efficient and competitive in the global market, and MSMEs can become part of the Global Value Chain such as MSMEs in Japan and Germany," said Deputy for Macroeconomic Coordination and Finance Iskandar Simorangkir. In addition to the ease of business licenses, the Government also provides various other facilities such as financing support through the People's Business Credit (KUR) which can be accessed by MSMEs. In 2022, the Government has increased the KUR ceiling to IDR 373,17 trillion and extend the additional KUR interest subsidy by 3% until the end of 2022, so that it can help MSMEs in strengthening business capital without being burdened with high interest. Furthermore, the Government has also enacted Government Regulation Number 7 of 2021 concerning Ease, Protection, and Empowerment of Cooperatives and MSMEs which aims to encourage the implementation of integrated management of Micro and Small Enterprises by being implemented in synergy by the Central Government, Regional Governments, and relevant stakeholders through cluster arrangement. The activity was also attended by the West Java Provincial Economic Bureau, West Java Provincial Trade and Industry Service, Bandung City Trade and Industry Service, Bandung City KUKM Service, Division Head of Social Entrepreneurship & Incubation BRI, Regional IV Leader Bandung PT Jamkrindo, Regional Leader PT Askrindo, and the Deputy Chairperson of Downstream Industry at the West Java Chamber of Commerce and Industry, representatives from the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI), as well as a number of academics from the Indonesian Education University and Pasundan University.
