Megawati Alludes To Foreign Products, Tokopedia Reveals Nearly 100 Percent Of Local MSME Sellers

Megawati Soekarnoputri (IST)

JAKARTA - Megawati Soekarnoputri criticized Tokopedia when she mentioned micro, small and medium enterprises (UMKM). Megawati said that Tokopedia provided a 'carpet' for products that were predominantly foreign-made.

But Tokopedia refuted Megawati's opinion. Tokopedia's VP of Corporate Communications, Nuraini Razak, emphasized that sellers/sellers are almost 100 percent of local MSMEs.

Nuraini said Tokopedia is a domestic marketplace that only accepts sellers from Indonesia and facilitates transactions from Indonesia to Indonesia.

“The sellers at Tokopedia are almost 100 percent local MSMEs so that the Indonesian market is fully enjoyed by domestic business actors and the economy revolves around the country. Tokopedia also does not facilitate direct imports from foreign sellers on the platform," he said in a written statement, Tuesday, June 29.

Previously, Megawati's criticism was conveyed in a webinar that was also attended by the Founder and CEO of Tokopedia, William Tanuwijaya, special staff to the president, Putri Tanjung, to the Minister of Culture, Research and Technology (Mendikbudristek) Nadiem Makarim.

Megawati reviewed President Jokowi's determination to invite entrepreneurs to empower or help local MSMEs to develop more.

"I'm a little critical, yes, constructive criticism. Why if I browse on Tokopedia where non-Indonesian products are served. Even though Pak Jokowi as President has said let's help MSMEs," Megawati said in a webinar broadcast on the Megawati Institute's YouTube.