VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Mar. 4 - Indonesia requires more MSMEs to export their products, for which every stakeholder must help encourage them to become exporters, according to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

"I urge to offer assistance to MSMEs, so that they have better capability to export their products. I have already mentioned briefly that we need more MSMEs to become exporters," the head of state noted in his opening remarks during the 2021 Ministry of Trade National Working Meeting from the State Palace here on Thursday.

Currently, some 90 percent of the exporters are MSMEs, but their export contribution reaches a mere 13 percent. Hence, their capacity should be increased and expanded, according to Jokowi.

"Hence, I reminded the trade minister last year that the Export Support Board will be revived," he remarked.

President Jokowi is keen that all parties assist MSMEs to increase their production as well as improve their products' designs and packaging as well as quality.

"To this end, it is important to collaborate with other ministries and agencies as well as other institutions in a bid to increase the competitiveness of MSMEs in the global market," he remarked.

Jokowi called for giving serious attention to the export market and to expand non-traditional markets.

So far, the export market for Indonesian products has always been directed to the United Arab Emirates or the United States.

Indonesia must explore new markets and give full attention to them, he stated

Several countries in Africa, South Asia, and Eastern Europe have achieved an economic growth rate of over five percent, he remarked. (Antaranews)