Jakarta – Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) continue to be the backbone of the Indonesian economy. In an effort to increase the competitiveness of UMKM amidst the challenges of globalization, various parties are encouraging collaboration between the government, business actors, and academics.
Business actors are invited to establish strategic partnerships with UMKM in order to expand the market and create a more inclusive supply chain. Academics also play an important role in providing research-based solutions to overcome the challenges faced by UMKM, such as production efficiency, technology-based marketing, and strengthening human resources.
Deputy Chairperson of the North Sulawesi (Sulut) Provincial Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Ivanry Matu said that increasing competitiveness will be able to make UMKM a strong pillar of the economy in 2045.
“One of the targets of the Indonesian Government is that by 2045 UMKM will have high productivity so that they can become a strong pillar of the economy,” said Ivanry.
Meanwhile, Peruri’s Digital Business Director, Farah Fitria Rahmawati, highlighted the importance of access to financing as one of the keys to the success of UMKM. In addition to financing, he also explained the importance of technology in advancing UMKM and the creative economy as a whole.
“There are still many UMKM players who are constrained by business capital. We encourage financial institutions to provide financing facilities that are easy to access. By utilizing technology, UMKM can optimize their marketing strategies, namely to reach a wider market, even at the international level,” he explained.
From an academic perspective, Professor of FEUI and Founder of Rumah Perubahan, Rhenald Kasali said that UMKM can be a mainstay of the economy amidst such complex challenges. In order for UMKM to grow and develop, the key to success is innovation, digitalization, and continuous collaboration with parties.
“As we have all witnessed, from 2019 to 2021, we have gone through an economic crisis or pandemic. And, UMKM can always be one of the mainstays of the nation’s economy. For that, we must strive so that these micro and small businesses can move up a class through various innovations and collaborations between parties,” explained Rhenald.
Cross-sector collaboration is expected to make Indonesian UMKM a stronger driving force for the economy amidst global challenges. The government and stakeholders continue to be committed to creating an inclusive, competitive, and sustainable business ecosystem.
