Teten Masduki Encourages MSMEs To Increase The Digital Sector

Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs Teten Masduki (right) at the MSME Celebration which was held at Fresh Market Bintaro, South Tangerang on Sunday 6 August. (Between)

SOUTH TANGERANG - Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs Teten Masduki encourages micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to continue to explore the digital sector, one of which is through non-cash payments. "The application of application-based MSME digitization and cashless payments will help traders reach wider consumers. If possible, as many startups as possible help MSMEs," said Teten on the sidelines of the MSME Hajatan event at Fresh Market Emeral Bintaro, South Tangerang, Sunday, August 6. Masduki said that MSMEs are one of the pillars of the Indonesian economy, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to him, MSMEs in the culinary sector have great potential to improve the community's economy. Moreover, culinary in every region of Indonesia has its own taste and uniqueness so that it becomes an added value in trade.

For this reason, the government through the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs encourages MSMEs, marketplaces, and digital payment startups to continue collaborating. He said, the biggest challenge in developing MSMEs is digital literacy, especially opening market access.

"Even though the market is still very open, especially in the suburbs of big cities, as well as underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost areas. In traditional markets it is also very potential. This secondary city is also something that needs to be worked on," he said. If the market becomes bigger, the income will automatically increase," he said.

Teten Masduki added, until now, the government has succeeded in digitizing more than 21 million MSMEs. However, the government continues to make various efforts to achieve the digitalization target of 30 million MSMEs in 2024. The acceleration of digital transformation is an effort to ensure the potential of the digital economy of IDR 4,531 trillion in 2030 can be optimized by MSME players and the Indonesian people.