VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Mar. 3 - Cooperatives and SMEs Minister Teten Masduki has encouraged micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to transform to produce technological innovation-based products to support the national tourism sector.

To this end, the minister highlighted the importance of changing Indonesia's branding as a country that is moving toward modernization whilst not veering away from the culture.

"I agree that our MSMEs should not only make chips, agate, and batik but must also start transforming to produce technology-based products to increase productivity and product competitiveness," he affirmed at the opening of Indonesia's Creative Work 2021: Lombok Exoticism, Wednesday, also broadcast online.

Masduki noted that with the current developments in technology, any product, from any remote village, can now be connected to the entire world and connected to a large market.

"Hence, it is important to change the branding of Indonesia, which has been known as an agricultural country or which has always been displayed by tribes and traditional symbols. Now, we display the symbols of modern Indonesia," he stated.

Teten noted that modernization is also expected to occur in tourism, which is also a sector that goes hand-in-hand with MSMEs.

"Tourism is not just selling exoticism but also must have begun presenting UMKM products based on technological innovation. I think we have to brand our country as one that is heading for modernization, and of course, still not leaving behind our culture," the minister stated. (Antaranews)