Cooperating With KP2MI, Ministry Of Trade Encourages Migrant Workers To Become Exporters

Photo: Doc. Ministry of Trade

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) is collaborating with the Ministry of Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI) to encourage Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) to transform into exporters.

This collaboration was marked by the signing of the MoU by the Minister of Trade Budi Santoso and the Minister of Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers Mukhtarudin on the sidelines of the 40th Trade Expo Indonesia event in Tangerang Regency, Banten, on Friday, October 17.

Trade Minister Budi Santoso said the Ministry of Trade is committed to involving PMI in export training and promotion programs, including through initiatives such as Export and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Villages. Dare to Innovation, Ready for Export Adaptation (MSMEs can Export).

Furthermore, Budi said that these two programs are expected to help PMIs to be able to become independent business actors and exporters after returning to Indonesia.

"We want PMIs to not only work abroad, but also learn and become Indonesian trade ambassadors. They can get to know foreign markets, understand consumer demand, and when they return to Indonesia they can become new exporters," he said in an official statement, Friday, October 17.

This collaboration between the Ministry of Trade and KP2MI focuses on the five main things that place PMI not only as a workforce, but also as an economic agent and promotion abroad.

The scope of cooperation includes increasing the capacity of Indonesian migrant workers, optimizing the role of PMI as information collection partners for market opportunities abroad, promoting services and business products in the international market, opening and utilizing market access for skilled PMIs in partner countries, as well as exchanging data and information.

"We hope that PMIs who have returned from training can become new exporters who also encourage MSMEs in the regions to penetrate the international market," he said.

Meanwhile, Minister Mukhtarudin said that this collaboration was a concrete step in building cross-sectoral synergies that complemented each other between PMI trade and protection.

"If the Ministry of Trade exports goods, we at KP2MI export labor. The approach is the same, the goal is the same, namely increasing the country's foreign exchange and the dignity of the nation," he said.

Mukhtarudin emphasized that President Prabowo Subianto's policy direction places KP2MI in two main focuses, namely improving the quality of the protection of migrant workers abroad and increasing the capacity of human resources so that Indonesian migrant workers become skilled and dignified workers.

"We want PMIs not only to be large in number, but also to excel in quality. Collaboration with the Ministry of Trade will expand PMI opportunities to contribute to national exports and become part of the global economic chain," said Mukhtarudin.

As a follow-up, the Cooperation Agreement (PKS) was also signed between the Directorate General of National Export Development, the Ministry of Trade and the Directorate General of Promotion and Utilization of Foreign Work Opportunities, KP2MI.

This PKS focuses on Strengthening Synergy on Promotion and Utilization of Overseas Job Opportunities in the Context of Supporting Export Increase.

PKS was signed by the Director General of National Export Development of the Ministry of Trade Fajarini Puntodewi and the Director General of Promotion and Utilization of Foreign Work Opportunities Dwi Setiawan Susanto.

The signing of PKS was also witnessed by the Minister of Trade Busan and Minister of P2MI Mukhtarudin Through this PKS, the two ministries are committed to improving PMI's skills and competitiveness; expanding access to information on job opportunities and export opportunities; strengthening the promotion of Indonesian products and services through PMI networks abroad; as well as strengthening coordination in protection, monitoring, and evaluation of cross-sectoral programs.