Having High Resilience, MSMEs Are Called Moeldoko As The Economy Tulangan

Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko during a visit in Pekalongan, Central Java. (Photo: Doc. Antara/Humas Pekalongan Regency)

PEKALONGAN - Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko emphasized that micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs are still the backbone of the national economy. So everyone must be enthusiastic because President Joko Widodo is very concerned about the development of MSMEs in Indonesia.

"I am excited to see developments because Indonesian MSMEs have become the backbone of the national economy even though previously they were hit by COVID-19," said Moeldoko, quoted by Antara during a visit in Pekalongan, Central Java, Wednesday, December 28.

According to him, at the beginning of the COVID-19 case, MSME actors felt quite a bit (the impact) but now in their development they have a very high durability so that it remains safe.

One of the five programs or agendas mentioned in the Senayan Session on August 16, 2022, he said, the President of the Republic of Indonesia emphasized the importance of digitizing MSMEs.

Moeldoko said the government provides incentives for cooperatives and MSMEs so that they can give a new spirit to rise to face the situation.

"For UMKM Pekalongan Regency, it is quite creative, it is very responsive to market wishes, there are diversifications of new things that need to be developed," he said.

According to him, Pekalongan Regency has a product brand, including the potential for batik, so it needs to be explored continuously so that in the end it can understand market will.

"Hopefully in the future MSMEs can get convenience from the government and banks because the Minister of Cooperatives and MSMEs is very concerned about this. If necessary, government support will facilitate KUR loans," he said.

Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq said most of the local people work as actors in jeans and batik businesses.

"From batik to people who know jeans products from West Java, but the production comes from Pekalongan Regency. Many craftsmen from Pekalongan Regency were sent to Yogyskarta, Solo, and Tanah Abang, Jakarta," he said.