Retail Asks For Budget Efficiency To Be Opened, Minister Of MSMEs: We Are Happy Because Creativity Is Out

Minister of MSMEs Maman Abdurrahman (Fourth from the left) and General Chairperson Hippindo Budihardjo Iduansjah (third from the left). Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI

JAKARTA - Retail entrepreneurs request that the budget efficiency instructed by President Prabowo Subianto be opened. This was conveyed by the Indonesian Shopping Center Retailers and Tenants Association (Hippindo) in front of the Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Maman Abdurrahman.

Chairman of Hippindo Budihardjo Iduansjah said that budget efficiency was opened so that it could move the Indonesian economy back.

"The retail is happy if there are events, Mr. (Minister of MSMEs). So, maybe later the efficiency can be released, sir, to enliven the economy again. Because from retail, there are many people who want to take a walk, going back and forth by plane from Indonesia only," said Budihardjo at the Inabuyer B2B2G Expo 2025 press conference. at the Smesco Building, Jakarta, Tuesday, May 6.

Responding to this, MSME Minister Maman Abdurrahman was actually happy with the efficiency because it could trigger creativity. According to him, a person must be in an uncomfortable zone in order to encourage his creativity.

"Regarding efficiency (budget), if I look at it from our side, yes, our Ministry of MSMEs is happy, you know, there is efficiency because of our creativity, so it comes out, sir. So, that person, sir, must be in an uncomfortable zone situation first so that creativity," replied Maman.

"All government officials, both from echelon 4, 3, 2, 1 and myself as Minister, leave (the creativity) sir. You imagine, I and the Deputy Ministry of MSMEs have many direct ideas because there are issues of efficiency," he continued.

According to Maman, budget efficiency actually encourages the government to further improve programs and collaboration across ministries. Even so, he did not deny that several sectors were affected.

"But I understand that in certain sectors there is indeed a slight impact (impact), but I think it can be mitigated with several policies (policies). Because indeed, sir, the current condition is that we can no longer see the budget perspective just from the perspective of the state budget," he said.

To note, President Prabowo Subianto instructed the government's budget efficiency of IDR 306.69 trillion in the APBN and APBD for Fiscal Year 2025 in order to maintain fiscal stability and support public services more optimally.

The target is contained in the document of a copy of Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 1 of 2025 concerning the Efficiency of Expenditures in the Implementation of the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) as well as the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD) for Fiscal Year 2025.

Through the Presidential Instruction, Prabowo directed a number of state officials, ranging from the ministers of the Red and White Cabinet, the TNI Commander, the National Police Chief, the Attorney General to governors, regents and mayors to carry out budget efficiency measures in various sectors.