Minister Maman: Digital Transformation Is The Key Factor For Strengthening MSME Competitiveness

JAKARTA - Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Maman Abdurrahman highlighted the low level of digitization of business actors in Indonesia. In fact, he said, digitalization is the key to strengthening the competitiveness of MSMEs.

This was conveyed during a key speech at the 23rd Islamic World Malays Convensyen (DMDI) in Jakarta, Friday, October 24.

Digital transformation is a key factor in strengthening the competitiveness of MSMEs. However, currently, only about 43 percent of entrepreneurs are connected to the digital economy sector," he said in an official statement, Friday, October 24.

Currently, said Maman, the world's halal industry has enormous potential. Therefore, digitization is an important step so that MSME entrepreneurs can continue to grow, adapt, and expand the market to a global level.

"Through digitalization and inclusive innovation, MSMEs are not only the backbone of the national economy, but also the driving force of the Malay world economy and Islam," said Maman.

Maman also invited the public and entrepreneurs to see great opportunities in the halal industry sector which is becoming a global economic trend.

Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the sharia economy and the halal industry contributed 46.7 percent to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Meanwhile, exports of halal products in 2024 reached 41.4 million US dollars.

This achievement places Indonesia in the main map of the world Islamic economy, which is ranked first in investment transactions, second in the halal product, and third in the global Islamic economy, Islamic finance, and Muslim fashion.

"This proves that Indonesia has enormous Islamic economic potential to be encouraged as a global force through the application of digitalization," said Maman.

Untuk menjawab tantangannya tingkat digitalisasi saat ini, sambung Maman, Kementerian UMKM sedang menyiapkan peluncuran platform SAPA UMKM, sebuah sistem yang akan menghubungkan seluruh pelaku UMKM di Indonesia dengan akses permodalan, legalitas, pelatihan, dan sertifikasi usaha yang dibutuhkan.

In addition, the Ministry of MSMEs has also strengthened the sharia business ecosystem to seize opportunities for the halal industry. The trick, through the development of 43 Halal, Safe, Healthy Culinary zones (KHAS) in various regions.

Then, said Maman, also through the distribution of Sharia People's Business Credit (KUR) amounting to Rp. 21.9 trillion to more than 334,000 debtors, as well as facilitation of sharia investments worth Rp. 104.4 billion with the participation of 376 entrepreneurs.

"With the development of the halal economy and the acceleration of digitalization, we can expand exports of halal products while strengthening the economic independence of the people," said Maman.

Through the DMDI forum, Maman hopes that concrete collaborations between Melayu and Islam clumps will be established in strengthening the supply chain of global halal products.

The Ministry of MSMEs, he continued, is committed to supporting the development of MSMEs with DMDI as an organization that strengthens relations between Malay and Islamic clumps around the world.

"Let's strengthen the collaboration between the Malay world and the Islamic world to accelerate the transformation of an innovation-based economy and technology," said Maman.