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Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, and Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita discussed the digitization of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) during a recent meeting with Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.

"Queen Máxima gives her attention so that the Indonesian government can maintain the impact of inflation and its effect on MSMEs, especially on the food industry," Kartasasmita said, according to a statement issued here on Monday.

The meeting, which discussed several matters such as the government's efforts toward boosting financial inclusion for the advancement of MSMEs, was part of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022 activities.

The Indonesian government is striving to develop MSMEs by promoting financial inclusion and digitalization, which are important factors for stoking productivity, Kartasasmita said.

While MSMEs account for 99 percent of total businesses in Indonesia, their digital technology utilization has not been optimal, the minister noted.

Hence, the ministry is making efforts to increase the sales of small and medium industries (SMIs) through digital or online marketing, he informed.

This is being done with the help of several strategies, such as enabling links and matches or partnerships with large-scale industries and state-owned enterprises (SOEs), building a digital ecosystem by helping MSMEs enter marketplace platforms, and procuring of MSME goods by the government and SOEs, Kartasasmita said.

"The Industry Ministry has organized various coaching and mentoring programs for SMIs so that they can become a part of the domestic and global industrial supply chain," the Industry Minister said.

Meanwhile, financial inclusion can be accelerated with the support of digitalization, including by using biometric IDs, as recommended by Queen Máxima.

Queen Máxima also expressed her support for Indonesia’s G20 Presidency this year. She said she expects the digitization results to be brought to the leaders' level later and presented as the G20's real achievements.  (Antaranews)