Bank Indonesia or the BI Representative for East Kalimantan has taken the initiative to actively support the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through the MSME Go Digital program. Digitizing payment systems and financial records will help MSMEs access formal financial institutions. Last week, Friday (9/12/2022 to be exact), "Kaltim Paradise of The East" was held at the atrium of Big Mall Samarinda. On this occasion, the Head of BI Representative for East Kalimantan, Ricky Perdana Gozali, stated that he supports the MSME Go Digital target. Also implementing digital MSMEs through five areas of development, namely human resources (HR) and Institutional, Finance, Production and Marketing. "The use of digitalization in the payment system and financial records helps MSMEs to establish a good track record and credit profile, making it easier for MSMEs to be able to access financing from formal financial institutions," said Ricky. In terms of access to financing, continued Ricky, the implementation of business matching has helped the MSMEs assisted by the East Kalimantan KPwBI to obtain loans worth more than IDR 2.1 billion. "Capacity development and assistance for at least 158 MSMEs consisting of subsystem
MSMEs, tourism and export supporters as well as inflationary food commodity producers (volatile food)," he continued. In addition, through synergy and friendship with Baznas, sharia economic empowerment at the end of the year is also encouraged through community development zakat for fostered Islamic boarding schools in West Kutai worth IDR 500 million. "This event also presents a series of capacity building for MSMEs to be able to go digital and go export and improve marketing access through showcasing activities so as to create MSMEs with capacity, quality and grades," he stated. To note, in order to increase the economic capacity of MSMEs, BI also provides assistance through the Bank Indonesia Social Program (PSBI) in the form of supporting facilities and infrastructure. "On this occasion, we handed over three PSBIs to MSMEs upporting tourism and exports," said Ricky. First, to the Batik Kalland Project business group. Second, the MSME coffee group and the third for MSME nipa palm stick craftsmen. The three aids were provided in the form of production downstream equipment to increase sales value and production capacity.
"Through this event, we also invite you to continue using domestic MSME products, especially products from East Kalimantan," he said. According to Ricky, by using quality local products, all stakeholders and the people of East Kalimantan will also become heroes for the revival of the country's economy by encouraging local MSMEs to Go National and Go Global. In Ricky's observation, there are two high-value local MSME products. The two superior products are East Kalimantan batik and coffee. Batik, according to him, is one of Indonesia's world-recognized cultural heritages. "Batik is no longer considered fashion or old-fashioned, but is a valuable commodity and has the potential to be widely developed into high-value products," said Ricky. Based on data from the Ministry of Industry, the national batik industry currently has 47,000 business units which are dominated by MSMEs and are able to absorb up to 200 thousand people. The export value of the national batik industry in semester 1 of 2022 is also relatively high, reaching USD 27.4 million. "Therefore, during 2022, the BI East Kalimantan Representative Office will carry out a program to develop East Kalimantan batik together with the local government, international designers and the Center for Crafts to increase competitiveness and selling value," he explained. Supporting sustainable MSME export efforts, his party also participates in developing coffee commodities. For coffee, crafts and fashion, Bank Indonesia East Kalimantan has synergized the development of export MSMEs, which recorded eight new exporters with a total transaction of IDR 6.8 billion.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Province (Sekprov) of East Kalimantan Sri Wahyuni said, talking about East Kalimantan Batik was very broad and now it has even covered 10 regencies/cities with their respective creations. Batik, which is a cultural heritage that has been developed, both originates from local cultural heritage and East Kalimantan batik is inspired by existing local wisdom. Sri Wahyuni conveyed that at least East Kalimantan Batik has Malay Batik from Kutai Kartanegara, Wet Rice Batik from Bontang, East Kalimantan Ecoprint Batik in Berau and Paser, Deer Batik in North Penajam Paser and several other areas. "All regions are trying to promote local wisdom, as outlined in batik designs. So, this is also our dream how batik can be recognized first by the people of East Kalimantan, then the national and even international community," he hoped. Batik Kaltim is also hoped that Sri Wahyuni can be present in the e-Catalog of the East Kalimantan Provincial Government so that all members of the community, up to elements of the government to Forkopimda. "So it can be when we give away batik souvenirs to our guests," he said. The hope of the East Kalimantan Provincial Government, continued Sri Wahyuni, is that in various activities batik from 10 regions in East Kalimantan with their respective characteristics can be presented. "East Kalimantan SMEs should not stop here but continue to develop themselves. Please provide input to us through related agencies, Dekranasda and Bank Indonesia to strengthen MSMEs, so that those who have quality capacity and grade up are not limited," concluded Sri Wahyuni
