Ordering Imported Used Clothing Sellers, Minister Of MSMEs Meets With The Minister Of Trade

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) together with the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) affirms the government's commitment to strengthening the protection and empowerment of MSMEs as a strategic step to encourage national economic growth.

MSME Minister Maman Abdurrahman said the government wanted to ensure that MSMEs hosted their own country.

"The Ministry of MSMEs and the Ministry of Trade want to ensure optimization of empowerment and protection for MSMEs. This synergy is important so that MSMEs can grow faster, be competitive, and truly become masters in their own country," said Maman, Monday, November 17.

This step is a follow-up to the President's direction regarding controlling the circulation of clothing used for illegal imports that have been circulating among entrepreneurs. The government, said Maman, is trying to maintain business continuity by prioritizing substitution of local products.

"We encourage comprehensive policies so that entrepreneurs, both Thrifting traders, MSMEs, and local producers can still run their business. They are domestic entrepreneurs that we must protect," he said.

As a form of real commitment, the Ministry of MSMEs has consolidated around 1,300 local brands to replace illegal used imported products.

"I have conveyed to the Minister of Trade that we have consolidated around 1,300 local brands. We hope that this substitution process can be accelerated," said Minister Maman.

Not only used clothes, the government will also follow up on controlling other imported products, including those from China, which have the potential to block the MSME market.

"This is not just a matter of used imported clothes. We will also regulate imported products that interfere with the sustainability of domestic MSMEs," he said.

He added that protecting domestic interests is the government's top priority.

"Our focus is clear, protecting and strengthening domestic interests," said Maman.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Trade (Mendag) Budi Santoso said that the synergy of these two ministries aims to encourage MSMEs to advance to class. The Ministry of Trade has also supported, among other things, through programs initiated by the Ministry of Trade, namely MSMEs Dare to Innovation, Ready to Adapt (MSMEs Can Export).

He added, for the next step, the two agencies will align policies in strengthening the competitiveness of MSMEs.

"We continue to coordinate to strengthen the competitiveness of MSMEs through the collaboration of existing programs, including the MSME Program, which can be exported initiated by the Ministry of Trade. From a policy perspective, both ministries continue to synergize policy perspectives that favor and support MSME growth," said Budi Santoso.