JAKARTA – President Prabowo Subianto’s government continues to demonstrate its commitment to strengthening a sustainable economy through the development of the fisheries Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector. This step is in line with the circular economy vision and the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, which is one of the government’s priorities.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), through the Directorate General of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fisheries Products (Ditjen PDSPKP), held a Business Empowerment Workshop in Pasuruan, East Java, involving 300 MSMEs in the field of processing and marketing fishery products.
This event aims to accelerate the transformation of MSMEs into highly competitive business actors at the national and global levels and received enthusiasm from participants from Surabaya, Sidoarjo, Banyuwangi, to Pasuruan. Not only MSMEs, 10 fostered cooperatives were also involved to strengthen institutional and HR capacity.
Director General of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fishery Products, Budi Sulistiyo, emphasized the importance of implementing a circular economy that focuses on the use of local and sustainable raw materials. This concept is in line with the spirit of the blue economy promoted by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries to reduce negative impacts on the environment while increasing the added value of fishery products.
“Through sustainable fishery products, we not only support national food security, but also protect marine ecosystems that are a source of life,” said Budi.
This activity involves various parties, including fostered cooperatives, to strengthen institutions and increase human resource (HR) capacity through direct training and consultation.
As a follow-up, this workshop presents speakers from various fields, ranging from export facilitation by LNSW to financial management and business digitalization. In addition, consulting services include financing from institutions such as LPMUKP, Bank Jatim, and BNI, as well as business licensing and product certification processes.
Director of Business Empowerment of the Directorate General of PDSPKP, Catur Sarwanto emphasized that his party always wants MSMEs to be able to compete in the international arena with easy access.
“We want to ensure that MSMEs get easier access to develop their businesses, including in the export process,” said Catur.
Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, emphasized that MSMEs have a strategic role as the main driver of the Indonesian economy. With a significant contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), MSMEs in the fisheries sector are expected to be a mainstay of national food security through protein-based products.
“Fishery products have great potential to become the backbone of national food security. With the implementation of the blue economy, we can also maintain the sustainability of the marine ecosystem,” Trenggono explained.
The government is also committed to encouraging fisheries sector MSMEs to move up a class by strengthening human resource capacity, facilitating access to capital, and digitizing businesses. With full support from local governments and related ministries, similar activities will be replicated in various provinces in Indonesia.
“With increasingly competent human resources, we are confident that Indonesian fisheries MSMEs will become one of the driving forces of a circular economy that supports environmental sustainability and economic growth,” concluded Budi.
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