Sandiaga Uno: MSMEs Must Innovate To Seize Opportunities In The Year Of Politics

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Salahudin Uno emphasized that MSME actors in the West Kalimantan creative economy must be able to innovate to seize opportunities in the political year.

"The political year will have many activities, creative economy entrepreneurs and MSMEs must be able to prepare themselves and seize opportunities. Don't be a spectator, so that MSME products can be utilized in this political year," said Sandiaga Uno while giving material at the training said Creative Economy MSME actors at Pontianak, as quoted from Antara, Friday 10 February.

He said the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, it's time for Indonesia to rise from the pandemic, one way to rise is by optimizing tourism and the creative economy.

"Indonesia is in the top 3 in the world, because our creative economy can be in third place after America and South Korea. In order for our creative economy to rise, local governments must be able to support MSMEs in their creative economy because this sector must be the host in their own country. ," he said.

To hundreds of Creative Economy MSME actors, Sandiaga advised, if business actors want to be successful, craft products and MSMEs must be innovative, adaptive, and collaborative.

"We have to be brave to take risks so we can develop and not stay put. We also have to build friendship because apart from being able to extend our life, we extend our fortune," he said.

He admits that he misses the togetherness that exists in West Kalimantan, because on his third visit to West Kalimantan, he feels a harmonious climate of togetherness which is believed to be able to accelerate economic growth in West Kalimantan.

"Once again I remind you, if you want to be successful you have to work hard, if you want to progress you have to work smart, if you want to be useful you have to work thoroughly and work sincerely. In West Kalimantan, there are already many tourist villages that are on the archipelago tourism agenda, so this must be developed to bring in lots of tourists and mobilize the creative economy of the surrounding community," said Sandiaga.

Finally, he advised the people of West Kalimantan, especially business people, to remain united, not to be divided in a political year.

"I also appreciate the West Kalimantan Provincial Government for the many innovations it has made to develop its creative economy and tourism. This of course must be maintained and supported by the local government," he said.

In the same place, West Kalimantan Governor Sutarmidji also said that his party was encouraging the development of tourism and the creative economy. One of the efforts made is to prepare a basic infrastructure that involves all parties.

"We encourage SMEs, tourism, and crafts to move forward. We have a very good Dekranasda room which is integrated with the West Kalimantan Museum, there is also a gallery of timber forest products and we will expand it further so that we will exhibit various exhibitions of timber forest products from SMEs there including We will also carry out training activities there," said Sutarmidji.