By: Deka Prawira)*
The G20 Summit held in Indonesia brought many positive impacts. One of them is being able to awaken National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The pandemic has made many people almost fall because of the global crisis, one of which is MSME entrepreneurs. They have to rack their brains to survive because people’s purchasing power has decreased drastically. The government is trying to prevent MSMEs from going out of business by providing social assistance.
One of the government’s other assistances is to involve MSMEs at the G20 Summit. This international forum will be held in Bali at the end of the year. Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno stated that there were 1,500 MSMEs that would be partnered with to make the G20 Summit a success. They will sell craft, culinary and fashion products to be used as souvenirs for the summit delegates.
Minister Sandiaga continued, the estimate of the G20 Summit delegation coming to Bali was 7,000-8,000 people. Thus, 1,500 MSMEs will be ‘used’, aka all of their merchandise will definitely be fixed as souvenirs. In addition, the QRIS application will also be used at the G20 Summit because it is the work of the nation’s children.
The appointment of 1,500 MSMEs in Bali to produce souvenirs is the result of President Jokowi’s orders. He really wants to promote small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, so the G20 forum is the right time for MSMEs to show their superior products.
The MSME entrepreneurs in Bali certainly splashed the profits from the G20 Summit because if the delegates came in large numbers, the goods sold would be very large. Thus, they made a huge profit. This profit is expected because it can make his business rise.
It is undeniable, money is the fuel in reviving a small and medium-sized business. If there are orders in large quantities from the G20 Summit, MSME entrepreneurs will not intend to close their businesses. They will continue to be excited because there are orders.
The appointment of MSMEs as partners certainly shows the government’s attention, especially to the poor. MSME entrepreneurs who are ordinary civilians are even prioritized. First, they are the backbone of the country’s economy, because 90% of traders in Indonesia are small and medium-sized.
Second, by cooperating with MSMEs, it will reduce unemployment. Logically, when the MSME business continues to advance, it will be impossible to fire employees so that unemployment will not increase. In fact, small and medium business owners will add more employees so that unemployment is reduced.
The government may appoint large companies, even from abroad, to make souvenirs at the G20 Summit. However, that did not happen, because they appreciated the efforts of MSMEs and wanted them to continue to advance, and rise from the blows during the pandemic. This is something we should appreciate.
In addition, when the products and services of MSMEs are shown to the delegates of the G20 Summit, they will see how rich Indonesian culture is, because of course what is on display is ethnic crafts and shows the uniqueness of this country’s culture. This particularity will stick in their memory so that they remember that in Indonesia it is special, even the souvenirs are still cultural in nature.
When 1,500 MSMEs were appointed to participate in the success of the G20 Summit in Bali, it showed the government’s attention to small and medium entrepreneurs. MSMEs must be promoted because they are the backbone of the Indonesian economy. MSME entrepreneurs are also happy because they get orders in large quantities, and they are proud to be able to support an international forum like the G20 Summit.
)* The author is a contributor to the Pertiwi Institute