Kominfo Encourages Papuan MSMEs To Digital Ecosystems To Increase Global Competitiveness

Digitalk Forum with the theme: “Road to BBI Papua 2022: Local SMEs with Global Competitiveness” (photo: Special)

JAKARTA - Directorate of Information and Communication for the Economy and Maritime Affairs, Directorate General of Information and Public Communication of the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kemenkominfo) held a Digital Forum with the theme: "Road to BBI Papua 2022: Local SMEs with Global Competitiveness" at Swiss-Belhotel Merauke, Papua, on Thursday, August 4th.

This forum is intended as an effort to educate and promote MSME actors in the Papua region.

In her remarks, the Director of Information, Communication, Economics and Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics, Septriana Tangkary said that the 2022 BBI Papua National Movement (Gernas) is part of accelerating digital transformation and the national creative industry.

"This movement also encourages MSME actors to advance to class and be globally competitive by entering the digital ecosystem", said Septriana in a statement received in Jakarta.

This year the Ministry of Communication and Informatics was appointed as the campaign manager for the implementation of Gernas BBI in Papua Province from June - August 2022 with the theme "Digital Binar Papua". The highlight of this event will be held in Jayapura on August 24, 2022.

The whole series of activities is expected so that later, digital transformation can be enjoyed by the people of Indonesia from Sabang to Merauke.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Regent of Merauke, H. Riduan, said that the acceleration of development at the border must be accelerated. So, Riduan hopes that MSME entrepreneurs in the Merauke Regency area can improve their quality, skills, and knowledge to improve the products they make.

"With assistance from MSMEs from the relevant agencies, I hope that we can really improve the quality and quantity of our products so that this has an impact on the people's economy of Merauke Regency", said Riduan.

Kuncoro Wastuwibowo as the Synergy Project Leader of Telkom Indonesia explained that, before starting coaching for MSMEs, (Telkom) created the market first.

Moreover, during a pandemic like this where people's purchasing power is declining, what we encourage to buy MSME products are the government, SOEs, as well as the Provincial Government and Regency Governments to keep the economy alive, after that they are only given funding through state banks and after that, they are only given guidance and assistance.

"Essentially the pattern of development through the digital economy for MSMEs throughout Indonesia, especially in the very rich Papua region, is carried out completely from market creation, funding, then commercialization both at home and abroad", concluded Kuncoro.

Continuing the explanation from Kuncoro, Deputy Head of Bank Indonesia Papua Province, Dedy Irianto explained the role and function of Bank Indonesia in developing MSMEs.

"Among them are keeping inflation low and stable to create a healthy business climate, also encouraging increased market and financial access and encouraging MSMEs to do onboarding on e-commerce platforms", explained Dedy.

So, continued Dedy, one of the functions and duties of BI (Bank Indonesia) is to support these MSMEs to advance to class through mentoring and coaching.

"So that the upgrade is not only bank-minded but also online thinking and even later we hope to export", he added.

This hybrid event was attended by speakers from Lazada, Dana, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and also the CEO of Kontak Hukum.com. This activity received a positive response from the participants of the Papuan MSME actors who were present.