Minister Of SOEs Called By Bahlil To Help MSMEs Owned By A Person With Disabilities, Erick Thohir: How Much Funds Do You Need? Just Talking

Minister of SOEs, Erick Thohir. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir agreed to become an investor with a disability named Sintia who is a Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) actor from Cimahi City, West Java.

He did this when asked by Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia to take the stage at the Issuance and Distribution of Business Identification Numbers (NIB) for Individual Micro Small Business Actors at Gelora Si Jalak Harupat, Bandung Regency, West Java, Monday, December 13.

"So this business actor is disabled, the investor is also disabled, now do you need working capital? The Minister of SOEs, please come here," said Bahlil Lahadalia while talking to Sintia, quoted from Antara.

Meanwhile, Sintia is an MSME actor who produces snacks ranging from pempek, fried meatballs, and Korean specialties. He had the opportunity to go on stage with other MSME actors to meet the ministers at the moment of the NIB distribution.

Sintia admitted that the business she was doing at her house had been running for a year. Every month, Sintia admits that she earns around Rp. 1 million in turnover.

Then after Erick Thohir went on stage, Sintia was asked how much money was needed to develop her business. However, Sintia was reluctant to mention the nominal in front of SOE Minister Erick Thohir.

"How much funding do you need? Let's just say, entrepreneurs must be brave," said Erick Thohir.

"How about the nominal, sir. Sincerely Mr. Erick," said Sintia.

After that, Sintia admitted that she wanted Erick Thohir to become an investor in his business rather than just being given an injection of funds. Erick then agreed to this.

"Oh, no need for funds, I want to be an investor, this is extraordinary, okay, I agree, later on, please ask for the phone number, Bismillah," said Erick Thohir.

The event was attended by hundreds of individual MSME actors who have pocketed NIBs. Bahlil Lahadalia said the NIB was needed to accelerate the access of MSMEs to obtain banking capital.

Because, he said, the development of MSMEs is considered very important to improve the country's economy. In addition, according to Bahlil Lahadalia, MSMEs also have the opportunity to increase job opportunities.

"We built this socialization (NIB) by going directly to the field, starting today, but if the socialization from the agencies and ministries we have done before," said Bahlil Lahadalia.