Trade Minister Zulhas Asks IMA To Continue To Contribute To The Indonesian Economy

JAKARTA - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan asked the marketing and entrepreneurial professional organizations (Indonesia Marketing Association/IMA) to continue to contribute to the Indonesian economy through breakthroughs and new ideas in marketing products.

"In the midst of a slowing economy and geopolitics that is not yet stable, synergy and collaboration are very important and are key words," said Zulhas, the Minister of Trade's nickname, in his virtual remarks at the IMA National Working Meeting, Sleman, Yogyakarta, Saturday.

As stated in Jakarta, Zulhas emphasized that marketing is not just advertising, but increases creativity, and makes new breakthroughs in marketing ideas or products to win competition.

Meanwhile, IMA President Suparno Djasmin said IMA has a strategic role to play in advancing the Indonesian economy. Therefore, he said, inclusiveness is needed by encouraging collaboration and synergy in the four pillars of IMA members, namely the government, academics, professionals and entrepreneurs so as to create an effective and strategic marketing strategy.

"We will continue to encourage synergy and collaboration to these four pillars so that optimal results can be produced," he said.

The existence of a signal of economic weakening in the first quarter of 2024, with pressure on the value of the rupiah, commodity inflation that touched 10 percent, corrections to automotive sales predictions and interest rates, he said, were a challenge to watch out for.

"The condition of global uncertainty and the contractioning condition of Indonesia reminds us to remain vigilant and remain enthusiastic to increase IMA's contribution so that it can help people deal with this era of uncertainty well, by prioritizing collaboration and synergy between the four pillars in IMA and between Central IMA and Chapter," said Suparno.

Currently, IMA is supported by more than 6,000 members throughout Indonesia. IMA carries three strategic initiatives, namely increasing the latest expertise in marketing, empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and supporting Sustainable Development Goals.

The Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) Sultan Hamengku Buwono X revealed that the local government really supports and appreciates IMA in an effort to improve competence and build market collaboration and MSMEs. He hopes that these efforts can contribute to improving the community's economy.

"We strongly agree that the collaboration carried out by IMA has been good and will be better if it continues to be improved, as we did in Yogyakarta which has a spirit of mutual cooperation," said DIY Governor represented by the Head of the Economic Administration Bureau and Natural Resources of the Regional Secretariat of Yogyakarta Province Yuna Pancawati.