KemenKopUKM Encourages MSMEs To Optimize Digital Technology

Arif Rahman Hakim in the Discussion on Complaints and Absorbs of Public Aspirations for Cooperatives and MSMEs concerning Optimization of Digital Technology for MSMEs in Banyuwangi, Friday (16/2). (Doc. KemenKopUKM)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs (KemenKopUKM) consistently encourages small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to utilize digital technology to increase product competitiveness and expand marketing.

Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs (SesmenKopUKM) Arif Rahman Hakim emphasized this when closing the series of Complaints and Public Aspiration Discussions for Cooperatives and MSMEs on Optimizing Digital Technology for MSMEs in Banyuwangi, Friday, February 16, 2024.

He reiterated that technology is an important instrument in an effort to increase the business capacity of MSMEs. Starting from the production process, packaging, to marketing, a touch of technology is needed in order to win competition.

Dengan adanya teknologi, kata Arif Rahman Hakim, pelaku UMKM juga akan lebih mudah mengetahui informasi potensi market yang akan digarapnya. Bahkan kebijakan alokasi belanja Kementerian/Lembaga sebesar 40 persen dengan nilai Rp810,91 triliun khusus untuk produk lokal/UMKM dapat dioptimalkan dengan cara mengakses melalui laman LKPP e-catalog (https://e-katalog.lkpp.go.id/).

"If we can't take advantage of (technology) and don't want to look for information and data, we will be left behind. Because the fact is that in e-catalog it turns out that there are not many MSMEs who use it," said Arif Rahman Hakim.

The government sees the current potential of Indonesia's digital economy reaching IDR 1,207 trillion and is predicted to reach IDR 5,400 trillion by 2030. This digital economy will become a new source of economy so that MSMEs from upstream to downstream should develop their product base with digital technology.

Arif Rahman Hakim also asked MSME actors to determine their performance targets so that they would be encouraged to advance to class. If there are problems with financing to achieve these performance targets, the government has prepared a cheap financing option for MSMEs through People's Business Credit (KUR) or with other financing schemes including revolving funds from the LPDB KUMKM.

"With adequate access to financing, MSMEs can be helped in increasing their business scale. Even to the micro sector, there is currently a relatively cheap financing scheme through ultra micro holding for financing services," said Arif.

Arif emphasized that KemenKopUKM is also committed to providing assistance for business actors to get convenience in terms of access to business legality. His party provides convenience services for MSMEs to obtain Business Identification Numbers (NIB), halal certification, and PIRT permits by collaborating cross-sectorally.

"Hopefully the facilities provided by the government can help MSME players, especially the micro business sector, to have better competitiveness," he said.