Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga emphasized that the government will strengthen the digital economy infrastructure to increase the strategic role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) when Indonesia becomes the G20 Presidency. "The government is strengthening digital economic infrastructure, increasing the use of digitalization, and strengthening enablers, such as payment standards across national borders, as well as development principles to optimize SME exports," said Jerry in a press release from the Ministry of Trade, Monday (10/1/2022).Jerry said that the G20 is a momentum for Indonesia to review the priority agenda list and ensure that the priority agenda conveys messages that represent developing countries. In addition, the government also needs to continue to prioritize collaboration in accordance with the G20 theme, recover together, recover stronger. "One of the opening agendas of the G20, namely the Sherpa Track of the Indonesian Presidency, which was held in December 2021, the government also focused on including activities aimed at empowering SMEs, including encouraging the digitization of SMEs, training in order to improve the skills of SMEs, and encouraging various pro-SME policies such as , ultra micro financing," said Jerry.
Chairman of the United Indonesia Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee (Kopitu), Yoyok Pitoyo hopes that the G20 market workshop can be felt concretely for SME players, especially Kopitu members."It is hoped that the market workshop at the G20 will not only be felt by big companies, but also SMEs players, for example in making tariff reductions for G20 countries," said Yoyok. The Secretariat of the Sherpa G20 Indonesia Hadianto said the challenges for SMEs to go global were regulation and financing, technology, and marketing. Thus, SMEs are a priority and an important sector discussed at the G20. Meanwhile, the Ad Interim Charge d'Affaires of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo Tri Purnajaya said that, like Indonesia, SMEs are the backbone of the Japanese economy. The Indonesian Embassy continues to encourage SMEs to increase access and promote Indonesian SME products to Japan. "Although Japan has a fairly high quality standard, I believe the opportunity for our SMEs to access the Japanese market is still very open," said Tri.
