Finally, SME-IKM Products Enter Exports Via PLB E-Commerce

The launch of the first export of SME-IKM products via PLB e-commerce. (Photo: Ministry of Trade)

JAKARTA - Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs Teten Masduki together with the Minister of Trade, Agus Suparmanto, released the first export of Indonesian SME (Small and Medium Enterprises), IKM (Small and Medium Industry) products to China through the e-commerce Bonded Logistics Center (PLB) service, in an industrial area and trade in Marunda Center, Bekasi, Thursday 19 December.

The initial export of SME-IKM products through PLB e-commerce includes 130 coli, 608 goods, 3,758 products valued at US $ 38,000. Also present were the Director General of Customs and Excise Heru Pambudi, the exporters of SME IKM products Lily Wahid as the Chairperson of the NU Circle Nusantara Cooperative Council, the Deputy Head of Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Trade Benny Soetrisno and aggregators such as PPI, LLP KUKM, Sarinah, NU Circle Nusantara and LPEI.

"At first I didn't believe it, when the committee came to my office, but now it is proven that SMEs are able to export through PLB e-commerce," said Teten in a statement received, Friday, December 20.

Teten assessed that this is the right time for MSMEs to take advantage of exports through PLB e-commerce, because currently online trade is growing along with the era of digitalization. He is optimistic that exports of SME products will continue to increase from year to year.

In particular, the contribution from leading sectors such as food products, agricultural products, horticulture, including handicrafts is expected to increase the contribution of exports.

"The Minister of Finance has asked the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, the Ministry of Trade, Agriculture and the KKP to continue to mobilize exports of superior sector products, where SMEs are expected to contribute more exports in absorbing foreign exchange," he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Trade Agus Suparmanto said that the existence of PLB e-commerce is expected to increase the role of SMEs in penetrating international markets without having to worry about marketing problems and the process of shipping goods, which have been their main obstacles.

With marketing assistance through PLB e-commerce, SMEs can focus on issues of capital exploitation, production and distribution systems. SME exporters can also take advantage of this e-commerce PLB to meet the import needs of raw materials through the KITE (Ease of Import Export Destination) facility.

"Currently, of the 60 million MSME players, only 14 percent have exported. We have assigned PPI and Sarinah to accommodate SME IKM products, "said Agus.

As the party that exports SME products, President Director of PT Uniair Indotama Cargo (UIC) Lisa Juliawati said PLB e-commerce is a logistics vehicle for SMEs from all over Indonesia, to help them export their products through the e-commerce system.

Director General of Customs and Excise Heru Pambudi added that apart from being a consolidator, the e-commerce PLB warehouse facility is also connected to PLB China and platforms in China. "This warehouse is modern and equipped with CCTV, realtime connected to Customs, so it is very safe," he said.