VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The BPUM was officially launched by President Joko Widodo at the State Palace in Jakarta on August 24, 2020. ANTARA/HO-Public Relations of Cooperatives and SMEs Ministry

The Indonesian government has provided Rp2.4 million per personto about one million micro-entrepreneurs under its financial assistance program, Presidential Assistance (BanPres) for Productive Micro Enterprises (BPUM), since August 17, 2020.

The funds have been disbursed to one million entrepreneurs operating micro businesses under the initial phase of the program.

BPUM funds will be gradually disbursed to 12 million recipients, Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, Teten Masduki, said following the launch of the program by President Joko Widodo at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday.

"This assistance is part of the National Economic Recovery (PEN) scheme provided to micro-entrepreneurs who do not have credit, but have a business," the minister elaborated.

The program is aimed to help micro businesses become more productive and recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

The ministry has collaborated with several stakeholders, including Himbara, to distribute funds under the BPUM, Masduki noted.

Under the first phase of the program, a total of Rp22 trillion will be distributed to 9.1 million beneficiaries.

From August 17 to August 19 this year, Rp2.4 trillion was disbursed to one million micro-entrepreneurs across the country's 34 provinces.

Warsiah, a soft drinks-trader from Bekasi, West Java, who received BPUM through BNI, said he was very grateful for the assistance.

"I will use this presidential assistance to increase my business capital," Warsiah stated.

Nia Maliana Pulanga, a grocery business owner in Pasir Panjang, Kupang, also expressed gratitude for the financial aid.

"Every day I sell groceries. With the help of the President, through the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, I can get it (financial aid) very easily, with the assistance of BRI officers. I will use this assistance as additional business capital to buy grocery store supplies. Thank you. I hope that those who have helped me, especially Mr. President, will always be given health, " Nia said. (ANTARA)