Menkop Teten Sindir Artists And Influencers Who Promote Imported Goods

Menkop UKM Teten Masduki at Tanah Abang Market (photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (Menkop UKM) Teten Masduki said, there was a role of artists to influencers who helped promote imported products, both streaming and online.

Teten assessed that the promotion carried out by the public figures could influence the traders.

"Indeed, there are many influencers or figures among social media artists who have many followers who are endorsers to promote products from outside. Maybe this is one of the reasons why online or online traders who are not public figures have an effect," he said at Tanah Abang Market, Jakarta, Tuesday, September 19.

He said that many finished products were imported and sold at low prices, resulting in domestic products unable to compete in offline or online markets.

"I came here, indeed there is a flow of goods entering Indonesia, consumer goods are very cheap so local products cannot compete both offline and online. This is very cheap, it doesn't make sense," said Teten.

Furthermore, Teten considered that domestic products had very good quality. Because, he said, a number of products made in Indonesia are widely sold abroad by large brands.

"The problem is at the price. When it comes to good quality in Indonesia, the fashion product garment industry is produced in Indonesia, not outside," he said.

Previously reported, the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (Menkop UKM) Teten Masduki conducted an inspection at Tanah Abang Market, Jakarta, today, Tuesday, September 19.

During the visit, Teten listened to the complaints of the traders. Most of them complained about declining sales, especially after the Eid 2023 period.

"Sales are not selling well, sir," said one of the traders.

Based on the results of discussions with a number of traders, Teten said their products could no longer compete with online sales.

"Earlier I visited Tanah Abang Market, I heard that the average decline (sales) was above 50 percent. Earlier we discussed (with traders), whether because they did not transform from selling in the market to online, it turned out that they had also transformed. They have sold online, but they cannot compete," he said.