PALANGKA RAYA – EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION BUREAU. Deputy Governor of Central Kalimantan Edy Pratowo attended the Opening of Indonesian Creative Works 2022, Friday (27/05/2022), virtually from Jayang Tingang Hall, Central Kalimantan Governor’s Office.

The event which was officially opened by the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia  Ma’ruf Amin brought a theme “Indonesian MSMEs Rise Through Digitalization and Globalization Towards Sustainable Economic Growth”. Also being present at the Jakarta Convention Center were the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno and the Governor of Bank Indonesia Perry Warjiyo.

Opening the event officially, the Vice President Ma’ruf Amin explained that MSMEs in Indonesia play a vital role as the foundation of the national economy. “I appreciate Bank Indonesia’s efforts to implement the MSME development program through three policy pillars, namely corporatization, capacity building, and expanding access to financing in order to create productive, innovative and adaptive MSMEs,” he said.

“In the future, I ask that good synergy and collaboration between Bank Indonesia and Ministries/Institutions, associations, and communities, in an effort to develop MSMEs in Indonesia, can be maintained and even reach various other parties,” said the Vice President in his remarks.

Furthermore, he conveyed, MSMEs as economic drivers need continuous encouragement to work, by prioritizing creativity, including support for increasing the role of women and young people in the recovery and revival of MSMEs, so that MSMEs can support future generations of the nation.

Through this event of Indonesian Creative Works 2022, the Vice President hopes that MSMEs throughout Indonesia will be more motivated to continuously produce breakthroughs to improve product quality to meet market needs while adapting to the development of export-oriented consumer tastes and utilizing various digital platforms to successfully penetrate the international market.

The Government’s commitment to accelerate the nation’s economy is manifested through the launch of the Proud of Indonesian Products National Movement which includes the use of the Domestic Component Level (TKDN). This is an important and inseparable part. This means, said the Vice President, efforts to promote domestic products are aimed at coherence from the upstream to downstream industries.

In addition, the Vice President said that the government’s commitment to support MSMEs was also carried out through the allocation of the government’s budget for goods and services as much as 40% for the purchase of MSME products as mandated through Presidential Decree No. 12 of 2021 concerning Government Procurement of Goods and Services.

“I hope that MSME players can take advantage of this opportunity to be more adaptive, creative, and innovative in creating products that suit market tastes and needs,” he said.

“Let’s support MSMEs through synergy and collaboration of various parties to increase demand for MSME products while supporting the development of MSMEs and creative industries that are competitive. With high spirits and cooperation, I believe that domestic products, especially MSME products, are able to host in their own country beating the consumption of imported products,” said Vice President Ma’ruf Amin.

Meanwhile, Deputy Governor Edy Pratowo who was met after the event appreciated the implementation of this Indonesian Creative Work. As conveyed by the Deputy Governor, Central Kalimantan included 4 MSMEs to be involved in this activity.

“Of course, the 4 MSMEs can represent products from Central Kalimantan and we hope that they can also be introduced and become Central Kalimantan brand to be marketed nationally and even internationally. The products introduced include Handicraft products, Wastra or Nusantara Fabrics, and also Honey,” concluded Deputy Governor Edy Pratowo.

Also attending to accompany the Deputy Governor of Central Kalimantan were Head of Representative Office of BI in Central Kalimantan Yura Adalin Djalins, Head of Central Kalimantan OJK Otto Fitriandy, Assistant for Economics and Development Leonard S. Ampung, and Head of Regional Development Planning, Research and Development Agency Kaspinor. (win/ben/transl.feb)