Expand Job Fields, Minister Teten Encourages Downstreaming Of Regional Superior Commodities

Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (Menkop UKM) Teten Masduki/DOK Kemenkop UKM

JAKARTA - Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (Menkop UKM) Teten Masduki is optimistic that downstreaming of regional superior commodities can be one of the efforts to improve quality and expand employment opportunities.

MenKopUKM Teten Masduki mengatakan, pada 2045 Indonesia diprediksi menjadi negara maju, yang mana pendapatan perkapita harus tumbuh minimal mencapai 12.000 dolar AS, dari yang sebelum 4.500 dolar AS.

"About 97 percent of employment opportunities are absorbed in the micro-business segment in the informal sector, therefore we are asked by the President to immediately downstream, in addition to minerals. By downstreaming based on plantation, agriculture and marine, which also involves cooperatives and MSMEs, it will produce more quality employment opportunities," said Teten in a written statement, quoted on Saturday, July 15.

Teten said, Indonesia is rich in its domestic advantage, for example in Kalimantan, there are 10,000 tons of rattan per month which so far have only been absorbed into the furniture industry by 1,000 tons.

In addition, there are also other medicinal plants that can be used as extract for the needs of the pharmaceutical industry.

"If the superior regional commodities can be properly lost, this will create jobs. So, later we will work with regional heads to present investors, including developing product innovations," said Teten.

Minister Teten expressed optimism that Indonesia could become a developed country, with widespread and equitable welfare.