Super Micro KUR Flower Down To 3 Percent, Observer: Right In The Middle Of The LAYOFFS

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto gave a speech at the opening of the BEBC (BIMG Eaga Business Council) Business Forum in Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan, Friday. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

Cooperative and MSME observer Agus Muharram said the government's policy of lowering the super micro loan interest rate to 3 percent was the right step. With this, it is hoped that small business actors can access capital and develop their business. "I think it will be very exciting for micro-enterprises to access credit if they need capital to increase business capital," said Agus, Wednesday, November 30. In the midst of the threat of a global recession, layoffs, and The economic slowdown in several sectors, Agus said, MSMEs are considered quite resilient. With low credit, actors can start running their business, creating their own jobs, independent. However, Agus said that apart from capital, of course, they must think about selling the products they produce. "The government is sufficient to increase micro credit down to 3 percent then certification for registration. For example, halal can be free of charge, then The Ministry of Cooperatives certification helps MSMEs, it's just a matter of marketing," he said. Agus said that currently, a number of ministries in the institution already have a number of agencies that oversee MSME products. However, he assessed, a special agency still needs to unite everything. "If possible, there is a kind of promotional body and support for SME products. Made by the institution itself to promote, accommodate certified SME products. The task of this agency is to promote, market and sell both inside as well as abroad," he said. Access must be made easier Meanwhile, the Head of the Center of Macroeconomics and Finance of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) M. Rizal Taufikurahman revealed that the policy of reducing the Super Micro KUR interest rate to 3 percent should result in an increase in credit demand from MSME actors. "When KUR was lowered, this scheme should have been responded to by many super micro businesses more progressively. This means that the decline in the KUR interest rate, then demand for credit should increase," he explained. Unfortunately, Rizal, people's purchasing power at this time is not strong enough to encourage micro consumption. This will result in less stimulated super micro-enterprises. "It's just that, the condition of people's purchasing power as micro-consumers, of course, super micro-enterprises are not attractive enough to stimulate," he said. Rizal actually suggested that the government facilitate access to KUR for super micro-enterprises rather than reducing interest rate. "Therefore, it should be supported not by lower interest rates, but easier access without many requirements that burden super micro-enterprises," he said.

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said, with the improving condition of the national economy, the government considered that it was necessary to make adjustments to KUR policies related to relaxation given to debtors. Adjustments to the policy also needed to be made in order to optimize KUR distribution to make it more targeted, as well as to encourage the efficiency of the KUR margin interest subsidy budget so as not to burden the Government's fiscal capacity. "The government lowered the super micro KUR interest rate to 3 percent in order to face the risk of stagnation and the form of partiality to workers affected by layoffs and housewives who run productive businesses," said Airlangga. One of these adjustments was also made by the government by returning several KUR policies during the pre-pandemic period starting from the micro and small KUR interest rates to 6 percent, the return of KUR distribution in the production sector by 60 percent, as well as limiting the total accumulation of Small KUR ceilings to a maximum of Rp500 million.