Minister Teten Invites APEC Delegations To Find Solutions To Solve MSME Problems

Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (Menkop UKM) Teten Masduki (center). (Photo: Doc. Kemenkop UKM)

JAKARTA - Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (Menkop UKM) Teten Masduki said the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Small Medium Enterprises Working Group (APEC SMEWG) became a very strategic forum to advocate for various serious challenges faced by SMEs.

"We invite all APEC SMEWG delegates to increase collaboration and cooperation in facing various challenges, either in the APEC area or globally. This is important because the SME sector has been the backbone of the economy," said Coordinating Minister for SMEs Teten in his remarks at the opening of the 57th APEC SMEWG at the Damaging Hotel, Nusa Dua, Bali, as quoted from his written statement, Wednesday, April 24.

Teten said the forum had an important meaning for the economy of APEC members, especially for Indonesia because this event provided a collective platform to overcome joint challenges in the development of SMEs.

These challenges include problems with access to financing, access to marketing, entrepreneurship to the creation of a digital ecosystem in the SME sector.

He hopes that the international forum can produce ideas and ideas together to increase the competitiveness of SMEs in the midst of rapid technological advances.

"In this forum we exchange insights, the best practices and strategies aimed at empowering SMEs to develop in a growing global landscape, with special sharing sessions focused on a pandemic recovery strategy among APEC members," said Teten.

In addition, he believes the forum can also be the main platform of various parties to share the best practices of each member.

Therefore, the delegates who attended were also expected to take advantage of the opportunity to engage in active dialogue and increase collaboration in the APEC area to encourage the progress of SMEs.

"In this forum, we must take advantage of opportunities to strengthen partnerships, encourage collaboration and pave the way for a brighter future for SMEs in the region (APEC)," he said.

In front of the delegates, Teten said that currently Indonesia is building a commodity-based medium-scale manufacturing industry. For this reason, industrialization and downstream programs are being carried out through the construction of joint production houses (RPB) which are continuously being promoted to achieve this target.

"This effort is a solution to create a medium-scale manufacturing industry that can overcome urbanization problems, increase industrial growth, expand quality employment opportunities and preserve natural resources," he said.

Meanwhile, Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs (Sesmenkop UKM) Arif Rahman Hakim added that the forum discussed a number of topics, such as digitization, entrepreneurship, access to marketing and financing.

Through the forum, said Arif, it is hoped that Indonesia can also take a role in encouraging the export performance of SME products.

"Of course we want SMEs to be more competitive, independent and have access to technology and can provide more productive jobs," he added.