Cak Imin Regarding The Prohibition Of Thrifting Sales: The Government Has Prepared A Business Transfer Scheme For MSMEs

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment (Menko PM) Muhaimin Iskandar emphasized the government's stance regarding the rampant trading of Thrifting clothing.

He said President Prabowo Subianto had ordered to close the import tap of Thrifting or used clothes.

Cak Imin, as he is familiarly called, said the government had also discussed the issue in a special meeting chaired by President Prabowo, and attended by a number of technical ministers, and related institutions to formulate comprehensive handling steps.

The import faucet ordered by the President was to the Minister of Trade (Budi Santoso), Minister of Finance (Purbaya Yudhi Sadive). Then those related to immediately take quick steps so that the import tap is not opened," he said in Jakarta, Thursday, November 20.

Cak Imin said, in this it was also decided to transfer MSMEs that had relied on thrifting products to switch to local products.

"There is a switching of MSMEs selling thrifting goods continues to be pursued through the relevant ministries so that switching occurs. It is no longer a used clothing business," he said.

Cak Imin said the government's stance strictly prohibits used clothing business activities, aka Thrifting. He said the Minister of MSMEs would provide a way out with capital for business actors.

"Yes, we, the Minister of MSMEs will provide a way out. For example, giving access to capital to sell other goods besides Thrifting," he explained.

Previously, the government began to prepare massive substitution measures against the rampant circulation of illegal imported products, especially used clothes and unlabeled goods. A total of 1,300 local brands are ready to replace illegal imported products that have been flooding the domestic market.

The move was discussed at the meeting of the Minister of Trade Budi Santoso and Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Maman Abdurrahman at the Ministry of Trade Office, Jakarta, Monday, November 17.

The meeting emphasized the commitment of the two ministries to strengthen the competitiveness of MSMEs while ensuring the sustainability of the businesses of local business actors.

Trade Minister Budi said the synergy between the two ministries was directed to bring MSMEs up to class, including through the MSMEs Dare to Innovation program, Ready to Adapt (MSMEs Can Export) initiated by the Ministry of Trade.

"We are coordinating 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 policies perspectives that favor and support MSME growth," Budi said in an official statement, Monday, November 17.

One of the main highlights of this meeting was the handling of the entry of imported clothing and unlabeled goods which were considered detrimental to the MSME ecosystem.

MSME Minister Maman Abdurrahman revealed that as of today around 1,300 local brands have been registered from other categories of clothing, shoes, accessories, and various other import products to be substituted for illegal imported products.

These products are prepared to replace the circulation of imported used clothing, so that imported clothing traders can be directed to sell quality local clothing, said Maman.

Lebih lanjut, Maman bilang, langkah ini menjadi momentum penguatan pemberdayaan UMKM secara menyeluruh.

Termasuk juga menciptakan ekosistem pemberdayaan UMKM yang lebih solid.

“Isu besar yang kami bahas adalah optimalisasi pemberdayaan UMKM dan perlindungan terhadap pelaku usaha lokal. Alhamdulillah, Kemendag sejak awal sangat peduli untuk mendukung UMKM. Dengan komunikasi dan intensifikasi koordinasi ini, kami ingin UMKM tumbuh lebih cepat, lebih kuat, dan menjadi tuan rumah di negeri sendiri,” ujarnya.

Furthermore, Maman said, this step is a momentum to strengthen the empowerment of MSMEs as a whole.

This includes creating a more solid MSME empowerment ecosystem.

The big issue we discussed was optimizing the empowerment of MSMEs and protecting local business actors. Alhamdulillah, the Ministry of Trade from the start was very concerned about supporting MSMEs. With this communication and coordination intensification, we want MSMEs to grow faster, stronger, and host their own country," he said.