Request Domestic Trade Data, Ridwan Kamil: Until We Need It, Know Where The Goods Are, No Need To Buy To China

West Java Governor M Ridwan Kamil. (Public Relations Doc. West Java Provincial Government)

JABAR - West Java Governor M Ridwan Kamil asked the central government to prepare domestic trade data. Mainly concerning Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

"The Center must record various economic potentials from all provinces, especially regarding MSMEs. This is important to do so that Indonesia is free from dependence on imported products", said Governor Ridwan Kamil when giving a speech at the commemoration of MSME National Day 2022, in Bandung City, West Java, quoted by Antara, Friday 12 August.

Ridwan Kamil said that when the global economic situation is uncertain as it is today, the domestic economy will suffer if it still relies on foreign goods.

"The world is not doing well. In order not to be trapped by other countries, the key is to increase domestic trade", he said.

Therefore, Ridwan Kamil asked the central government to record the potential of each province, especially regarding MSMEs, so that each region would know each other about the existence of the goods needed without having to import from abroad.

"So that when we need something, we know where the item is. There is no need to buy it from China", he said. His party ensures that the togetherness of each province is the main key to optimizing economic growth, especially in revitalizing MSMEs.

Governor Ridwan Kamil gave an example of several countries that failed due to weak sectors that directly touched the people.

"The key is that our trade is not dependent on outsiders. If we can maximize it by ourselves, we are safe. So, Mr. Minister Teten, I need data, what does Papua need, God willing, in West Java there is", he said.

Responding to Governor Ridwan Kamil's request, Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs Teten Masduki ensured that the government continues to revitalize MSMEs, one of which is by recording every potential that exists in each region.

"We need inter-regional data, now we don't have it. This year we are targeting 14 million MSME data. So distribution permits, halal certification, business registration numbers, we have to speed up, we have to accelerate", said Minister Teten.

He acknowledged that he realized that optimizing the domestic MSME sector would have a significant impact on economic growth.

"If Rp400 trillion is spent on MSMEs, it can create 1.58 percent economic growth or absorb more than one million jobs, without any new investment", he said.

Therefore, he reiterated that the government is committed to optimizing MSMEs. In addition to continuing to try to increase the number, he also said that his party was trying to improve the quality.

"We will try to make MSMEs easy to access capital. An incubation approach is needed that is integrated with financing and markets. It is no longer just training", he said.

In addition, Minister Teten said that he would further introduce MSMEs with digitalization because the potential value of the digital economy in 2030 will reach IDR 5,400 trillion.

"But currently more than 10 percent of e-commerce is imported products. So we have to strengthen our production so that this large digital market can benefit. Moreover, the implementation of education, property, transportation, and health, is now based on technology. We must strengthen MSMEs", said Minister Teten.