BRI Provides Loan Relaxation Of IDR 14.9 Trillion For 135 Thousand MSMEs Affected By COVID-19

JAKARTA - The government continues to make efforts to fight the corona virus or COVID-19 in Indonesia by issuing various kinds of stimuli, one of which is for the financial sector.

Through the financial services authority (OJK), the government provides credit relief for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) customers affected by COVID-19. One of those that has implemented this policy is PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BRI).

BRI is moving quickly to implement OJK Regulation Number 11 / POJK.03 / 2020 concerning national economic stimulus as a countercyclical policy on the impact of the spread of COVID-19. Not even one month since the policy was issued, BRI has restructured more than 134 thousand MSME actors affected by COVID-19 in Indonesia.

BRI Corporate Secretary Amam Sukriyanto explained that the restructuring was carried out from March 16 to March 31, 2020 with a ceiling value of the restructured loan reaching Rp. 14.9 trillion.

"The restructuring scheme provided by BRI for each debtor is different according to the conditions faced, provided that the business still has good prospects and the debtor personally has good or cooperative intentions," he said, in a written statement received by VOI, in Jakarta, Monday, 13 April.

Amam explained that the credit restructuring process was carried out while still adhering to the principle of prudence by assessing the extent of the impact of COVID-19 on customers' businesses.

"On the other hand, the implementation of this relaxation is a form of BRI's commitment to support the government in efforts to protect and save MSME players in Indonesia due to the impact of the spread of COVID-19," he explained.

Not only providing relaxation, Amam said, BRI also has various other programs to continue to support the growth of MSME players in the midst of current conditions. These programs include business assistance and consultation by more than 38 thousand relationship managers, helping to sell MSME products through the Indonesia mall.

Furthermore, Amam said, BRI also held virtual education and training and also through the distribution of various types of BRI's CSR programs.

Previously, OJK had enacted OJK Regulation (POJK) No.11 / POJK.03 / 2020 concerning national economic stimulus. Through this regulation, banks can provide relief to their debtors, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which can restructure all loans and financing from banks, with a credit value of below IDR 10 billion.

The sectors affected by the COVID-19 outbreak include tourism, transportation, hotels, trade, processing, agriculture and mining.

Based on the contents of the POJK, this restructuring can only be given after the company or MSME has been directly or indirectly affected by COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the types of restructuring that banks can provide to their debtors include lowering interest rates, extending tenors and lowering the value of principal and interest arrears. In addition, banks can also provide additional loan or financing facilities to borrowers or convert the loan into Temporary Equity Participation.

OJK spokesperson Sekar Putih Djarot said that his party had recorded a number of banks that had committed to provide relief, both state-owned and private.

Several commercial banks that have provided this policy include BUKU IV banks such as PT Bank Mandiri Tbk (Bank Mandiri), PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia Tbk (BRI), PT Bank Negara Indonesia Tbk (BNI), PT Bank BTPN Tbk (BTPN), PT Bank Pan Indonesia Tbk (Panin Bank) and PT Bank Permata Tbk (Permata Bank).

KUMKM Data Collection E-Form

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs has released an e-form for the benefit of collecting data on cooperative and MSME actors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"To be able to implement policies and government facilitation for KUMKM actors affected by COVID-19 on a targeted basis, accurate data is needed," said Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, Rully Indrawan.

He said that the latest and the details are crucial as the basis for policy making in the field. This, said Rully, can only be obtained through the participation of the actors who are directly affected.

This data collection is a follow-up to the program through the complaint hotline for affected KUMKMs which was opened on March 17, 2020 as a quick response to the Ministry of Cooperatives and UKM to receive reports, as a basis for preparing the right strategy, so that they can distribute aid as soon as possible.

"We are working together across ministries and institutions regarding the supply and analysis of this data," said Special Staff to the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, Fiki C. Satari.

It also collaborates with community groups and cooperatives and UKM assistants, which have reach and networks to all corners of Indonesia.

In this effort, his party released a questionnaire e-form to be completed by the affected KUMKM actors.

Fiki continued, the data obtained from this e-form will be integrated with the ministry's big data, which will be used as a basis for updating data and handling more responsively and responsively in the next government program support.

"That way the perpetrators are asked to inform their condition in more detail and specifically, because in addition to being able to be integrated with previous data, it is also to avoid duplication of data," he said.

The data obtained and completed with the NIK of KUMKM actors will be compiled in an integrated system so that the perpetrators do not need to fill in data again in the future.

Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, Rully Indrawan, ensured that this data collection did not collect funds because the budget for the execution of these mitigation programs had been disbursed, so there was no obligation for the perpetrators to pay any compensation.

"We understand that a lot of data collection has been circulating in the community, but this e-form is very much needed to ensure the availability of accurate and up-to-date data," said Rully.

This is none other than because in the field, the very diverse conditions, characteristics and problems of KUMKM that are scattered throughout Indonesia are a challenge for the government to be able to distribute the right types of programs and assistance.

"Therefore, we do this e-form circulation through a network of organizational devices related to KUMKM, not directly to the public," he said.

This e-form for Data Collection of Co-operatives and MSMEs Affected by COVID-19 has begun to be distributed through the Regional Apparatus Organizations in charge of Cooperatives and UKM, as well as all institutions that have networks and stakeholders of KUMKM actors starting Monday, April 13, 2020.