Erick Thohir: SOE And MSME Transactions Reach IDR 10.9 Trillion, Hope That The Poor Don't Get Poorer

Minister of SOEs, Erick Thohir. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of SOEs)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) said that until August 31, 2021, the transaction value of state companies to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) had reached IDR 10.9 trillion. This amount comes from 142 thousand transactions with MSME actors.

SOE Minister Erick Thohir said the achievement involved 10.100 MSME actors. These MSME actors are members of the MSME Digital Market (PaDi) service.

"The transaction value of SOEs with MSMEs is IDR 10.9 trillion, consisting of 142 thousand transactions and involving 10.100 MSMEs. This shows how strong the collaboration has been", he said in a virtual press conference, Monday, September 6.

In difficult times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Erick, strong collaboration is needed between state-owned companies and people's businesses. This is to create a good ecosystem in maintaining the economy in times of crisis.

Furthermore, Erick said collaboration between SOEs and MSMEs must begin with an understanding that the two sectors are not competitors. Rather, it is a strategic partner in building the national economy. That way, if SOEs grow, it is certain that the people's businesses that are partners will grow.

"Of course this collaboration is very important because during a pandemic we don't just survive, but we have to build an ecosystem for mutual resilience", he said.

Erick said that the ultimate goal of the collaboration between SOEs and MSMEs is the creation of economic equality. So that people can move up class and develop their business.

"So that the poor do not get poorer, while the rich get richer", he explained.

For your information, the partnership between SOEs and MSMEs is not only in the MSME PADi program. Recently, the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (Kemenkop UKM) also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) and the Ministry of Industry to encourage cooperatives and SMEs to enter the supply chain of SOEs. The value of the cooperation reached more than IDR 52 billion.

For your information, the Cooperative Partnership program, MSME/IKM in the SOE Supply Chain itself is the government's effort to absorb the use of the domestic component level (TKDN) to encourage MSME business.

Deputy for SMEs at the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, Hanung Harimba Rachman, said that with this collaboration, it is hoped that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) or Small and Medium Industries (IKM) can become SOE partners.

Furthermore, said Hanung, there are 9 MSMEs that will partner with 6 state-owned companies. The selected MSMEs or IKMs have passed the selection stage carried out by the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs together with SOEs.

"From the results of SOE verification of MSME or IKM data in the early stages, there are 9 MSMEs that can partner with SOEs, with an estimated cooperation value of IDR 52.237.000.000", he said at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, Friday, August 3.

Furthermore, Hanung said the six state-owned companies are PT Pertamina, PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara or PLN, PT Kimia Farma, PT Krakatau Steel, Perum Perhutani and PT RNI Persero.

Hanung said that the partnership was carried out to involve MSMEs in the SOE supply chain. The aim is to expand market access for MSMEs both domestically and abroad.