REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) encourages micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to dominate the local market and global as well. This was stated by Jokowi in his speech at the opening of MSME Expo (rt) Brilianpreneur at Jakarta Convention Center, Jakarta, Thursday (7/12/2023).

“Our MSMEs have to keep moving up the class, have to go digital, have to go international, and master the local market we have because our market is so big. But also, do not forget about the export market and the global market,” Jokowi said.

Jokowi said that currently only about 15.7 percent of Indonesia's MSMEs enter the export market. That number still lags behind neighboring countries, such as Singapore, which already stands at 41 percent and Thailand at 29 percent.

In addition, Jokowi also pushed for the financing of SMEs to continue to be made easier. Because at present, the distribution of banking credits to SMEs only reaches 21 percent of the total existing credit.

Therefore, Jokowi requested that the regulations related to SME financing could be improved to make it easier for SME actors to access financing. He said that credit distribution in China and Japan has reached 65 percent and in India 50 percent.

“I think Mr. Minister of state-owned enterprises may also later with BI and OJK, this is the regulation that must be improved because not all of our MSMEs have collateral assets, they have collateral so that prospect should also be looked at. Don't just look at where the collateral is, look at the prospects as well. I don't have collateral but the prospects are good, they should also be able to give credit,” he explained.

In addition, Jokowi also reminded that MSMEs are observant to continue to pay attention to demand and market trends. Thus, it is hoped that MSME products can meet the tastes of the market and keep pace with the times.

“I also do not tire of reminding that MSME products should always look at market demand, look at market trends, look at market tastes like, what color matters, design issues, packaging issues, always have to be improved every year so that our products stay up to date and are able to meet existing market tastes,” Jokowi explained.

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