Perpetrators Of Indonesian MSMEs Tembus 65 Million But Many Selling Cracks To Chips

UMKM illustration (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs (Kemenkop UKM) revealed that so far there have been around 65 million MSME actors spread throughout Indonesia.

Deputy for Entrepreneurship of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs Siti Azizah regrets that there has been no innovation from MSME players to develop their business to other sectors.

"Indeed, 65 million MSME players are more than enough actually, but unfortunately why, 'yes, the expo is always chip crackers'," said Siti Azizah at the 2024 Open Call Entrepreneur Development (Entredev) in Jakarta, Tuesday, February 6.

Siti Azizah said that during her every visit with Minister Teten, what was always found was the number of MSME players selling crackers and chips.

In fact, he said, Indonesia has qualified natural resources, ranging from the agriculture, fisheries, to livestock sectors.

"So, for the past three years, if I visit the minister, he always says 'why is it that expo always cracker chips?' The ones with crackers and chips should not be reproduced. So, look for those based on technology and innovation so that they can be sustainable," he said.

According to Siti Azizah, Indonesia needs MSME actors who innovate. Thus, being able to boost competitiveness in the global market and can contribute to the national economy.

"(Innovation) is what we need because Indonesia is very rich. We have agriculture, livestock and fisheries," he said.

Therefore, Kemenkop UKM held the Open Call Entrepreneur Development (Entredev) 2024.

This is done as an effort to create innovative and certainly sustainable entrepreneurs.

"Our hope is that through Entredev 2024 we can once again create innovative entrepreneurs based on technology and of course sustainable. So, this program does have a very positive impact so that we continue," he added.