By: Aldia Putra )*
The Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on the sustainability of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The government also continues to roll out Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) to MSMEs so that they can continue to survive and support the national economy in the midst of a crisis due to an infectious disease outbreak.
In the midst of the imposition of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) level 3-4, the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs is trying to accelerate the distribution of the Productive Micro Business Presidential Assistance (BPUM) or MSME BLT amounting to Rp 1.2 million.
Deputy for Small and Medium Enterprises Kemenkop UKM Eddy Satria said that his party will continue to encourage the acceleration of distribution until the end of August 2021 as many as 3 million BPUM recipients. To obtain BPUM 2021, of course, MSME actors must also include requirements based on the Regulation of the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (Permenkop UKM) No. 2/2021 concerning General Guidelines for BPUM Distribution.
MSME actors can also propose themselves to the Regency or City Office of Small and Medium Business Cooperatives (Kadiskop UKM) in their respective regions no later than August 31, 2021, by preparing documents in the form of; NIK according to e-KTP, KK, Full Name, Address according to KTP, Line of Business, Telephone Number.
Produkti Assistance Program f for Micro (BPUM) or BLT SMEs in tah ap first, the government has provided a budget of Rp. 11.76 trillion for 9.8 million micro-enterprises. Meanwhile, the second phase of the budget is IDR 3.6 trillion for 3 million micro-enterprises.
On a different occasion, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin is optimistic that MSMEs can play a role in national economic development because they contribute to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and are able to absorb labor.
Data from the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (Kemenkop UKM), Ma’ruf Amin stated that MSMEs have contributed 61.07 percent to GDP, or equivalent to more than Rp. 8,500 trillion.
MSMEs are also able to absorb 97% of the total workforce and are able to collect up to 60.4% of the total investment value. In addition, the sustainability of MSMEs during the pandemic also shows the role of MSMEs in supporting national economic growth. Therefore, the Vice President hopes that MSMEs can be at the forefront of economic revival, can achieve success in achieving economic growth and achieve social welfare in a fair and equitable manner. Even though we are currently still in the condition of the Covid-19 pandemic and PPPK, Ma’ruf Amin believes that his determination and aspiration to advance MSMEs will never subside.
Meanwhile , Coordinating Minister for Cooperatives and SMEs Teten Masduki said that the Covid-19 pandemic still poses challenges for business activities, even though the economic growth rate improved in the second quarter. Teten also hopes that the commemoration of National MSME Day 2021 can be an opportunity to revive MSME transformation efforts for the future.
He also hopes that this opportunity can be used to prepare for the rise of Indonesian MSMEs to dominate and expand again while adapting in the midst of a pandemic disruption . We cannot close our eyes that the Covid-19 pandemic has indeed affected the existence of MSMEs. This is certainly related to the existence of social and physical restrictions that interfere with the production process and transactions.
The Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs also noted that 94 % of SMEs do not use computers in running their businesses because digital literacy is still low. Whereas the digitization of MSMEs can be an opportunity to grow during a pandemic that limits physical gatherings. The injection of BLT funds is of course expected to help MSME actors to be able to innovate related to their business methods.
Marketplaces or market workshops can certainly be an alternative for MSME players to continue to have income. Digitization in the MSME sector turns out to have an important role in the recovery of the national economy and encourages MSMEs to continue to be empowered. A survey conducted by the World Bank in 2021 stated that 80% of MSMEs that have entered the digital ecosystem have better resilience.
The BLT provided by the government is certainly expected so that MSME actors can be more confident in expanding their distribution wings. Moreover, the government is also carrying out market demand by streamlining government spending worth 40% of the total budget of Rp 460 trillion.
This pandemic is like waves tossing ships, both large ships and small ships, to survive the waves, of course, a stimulus is needed so that ships become strong and stay afloat while innovating, so that when the storm is over , SMEs can rise up and become a sector. capable of absorbing labor.
)* The author is a contributor to the Press Circle and Cikini Students