Ministry Of Trade Claims Free Incentive Post Creates Four Billion Visits On Digital Platforms

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) claims the free shipping program (ongkir) for domestic products is able to increase visits on digital platforms. In fact, it reached four billion within eight days. This number will continue to increase, because the program is still running.

The Director General of Domestic Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Oke Nurwan, said that 75 digital platforms that received the program received an average of 100 million visits. Meanwhile, the transaction value obtained reached Rp. 1 trillion.

"All this has not been collected, only 60 percent of the total, there have been four billion visits and quite large transactions. The biggest categories are fashion, culinary, electronics, home furniture and all of that are directed to be collaborated towards domestic products," he said in an online discussion in Jakarta, Monday, May 31.

Oke said the program was designed for domestic producers to be able to host in their own country. In the future, said Oke, domestic products will be directed to be able to penetrate the international market.

According to him, the seriousness of the government regarding this matter is shown by the existence of several incentives that will be given to local players who are going to go international. Some of them are information on international market needs and product designs that are suitable for sale.

"Assistance in design because we often force products that are made to be marketed but do not match our tastes. So assistance must be done," he explained.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PT Paragon Technology & Innovation (Wardah) Nurhayati Subakat admitted that she strongly supports the efforts made by the government to promote micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Moreover, MSMEs have been the pulse of the national economy.

However, Nurhayati admits that there are obstacles that MSMEs are still facing, namely the products produced are still mixed with foreign products that have factories in Indonesia. So that the absorption of national original products is still not optimal.

"That's what sometimes hinders the growth of MSMEs a little, if I may suggest that the domestic industry should be emphasized is only the local industry," he said.