Chamber of Commerce Pushes for Stronger SMEs Role
5 November 2013 07:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Palembang - The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has called on the government to strengthen the role of SMEs and MSMEs in warding off future economic crises.
Kadin chairman Suryo Bambang Sulisto emphasized on the importance of SMEs in strengthening the economy, which has been proven in developed countries that pay extra attention to its SME sector.
Suryo said the role of cooperatives, which has so far been seen as a social instrument, must be altered into a business entity. This way, cooperatives will be able to operate to its maximum potential in order to support SMEs while still gaining support from the government.
Strengthening the role of SMEs was one of the recommendations put forth by Kadin officials in a meeting last week. Furthermore, the Kadin also made recommendations to the government on the management of logistic issues, energy supply, developments in the downstream industry, and infrastructure development.
As of 2012, the Industry Ministry had listed four million SMEs hiring some 9.4 million workers. These businesses have managed to produce investments amounting to Rp261 trillion with an export value of US$16.5 billion, 14.2 percent out of the state’s total amount of industries aside from oil and gas.
LINDA HAIRANI | ABDUL MALIK
