Protect MSMEs From Indigenous Trade Practices, Minister Of Trade Zulhas Perfect PSME Rules

Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Trade has perfected the Regulation of the Minister of Trade (Permendag) Number 50 of 2020 concerning Provisions for Business Licensing, Advertising, Development, and Supervision of Business Actors in Trade through Electronic Systems (PMSE).

Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said that this improvement aims to maintain and optimize online or online trade in the country.

Through the improvement of this Permendag, the government ensures that PMSE becomes a fair and useful business space, especially for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This Permendag is also to protect the domestic market from unhealthy trade practices," said Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan in Jakarta, Thursday, December 29.

Zulhas, as Zulkifli Hasan is familiarly called, said that the Ministry of Trade had previously conducted a public test on the improvement of Permendag Number 50 of 2020 on 19 December 2022. This activity is part of the policy preparation process.

Some of the inputs include trade-related arrangements through social media, transnational transactions, and a ban on the sale of certain goods in the lokapasar.

This Permendag is a derivative of Government Regulation (PP) Number 80 of 2019 concerning Trade Through Electronic Systems (PMSE).

"The online trade rules have actually been included in the Minister of Trade Regulation Number 50 of 2020, but need to be refined," said Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan.

Meanwhile, Plt. The Director General of Domestic Trade Kasan explained that the essence of improving the Permendag is to increase the competitiveness of MSME products as well as prevent unhealthy trade practices in the electronic trading market.

This is important because the consequences of unhealthy competition practice not only damage the structure of MSMEs, but also distort Indonesia's trade structure.

"The improvement of the policy is expected to create justice for treatment between domestic and foreign business actors as well as formal and informal business actors," he said.

Kasan said, improvement can at the same time protect national interests through strengthening business actors, local products, and protecting consumers; and encouraging the growth of electronic commerce

In Indonesia so that it can provide fair benefits for parties involved in the electronic commerce ecosystem.

Furthermore, Kasan said, the discussion process on the improvement of Permendag No. 50 of 2020 collaborates with various relevant stakeholders.

This collaboration between stakeholders is absolutely necessary because PMSE is not only related to electronics and trade, but also the issue of consumer protection. For this reason, efforts to develop electronic commerce in Indonesia need a comprehensive ecosystem-based approach, not partial (sectoral-based).

"This makes the process of drafting this policy take longer than expected, but the improvement of this Permendag is expected to be published soon," added Kasan.

Kasan hopes that the presence of new rules will further provide clarity on the rules of the game and also the justice of business opportunities in the field of online trade.

"Thus, it can encourage local players to be more confident to compete in gaining trading benefits from the increasing trend of digital trade in Indonesia," concluded Kasan.