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A screenshot of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati at the launch of Gernas BBI Beli Kreatif Danau Toba in Jakarta on Saturday (February 20, 2021). (ANTARA/Astrid Faidlatul Habibah)

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has assured that state budget funds will be used to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to help them recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Amid the pandemic, we must contribute and work hand in hand to restore and support MSMEs so they can not only withstand (the crisis), but also rise to become stronger,” she said while launching the Proud of Indonesia-Made Product National Movement (Gemas BBI) here on Saturday.

The government has so far provided significant support to MSMEs through the state budget, particularly through the national economic recovery program (PEN), she pointed out.

The Rp688.33-trillion budget for the 2021 recovery program includes MSME support and corporate financing worth Rp187.17 trillion and focuses on several programs, she said.

The programs include interest subsidies for smallholder business credit (KUR) and non-smallholder business credit (non-KUR), productive assistance for micro business (BPUM), and loss limit insurance for MSMEs and corporations."The government has so far given much assistance to MSMEs," the minister remarked.

Indrawati said efforts to revive MSMEs have also involved integrating creative economic activity with the development of tourist destinations, including Lake Toba in North Sumatra.

The government is promoting Gemas BBI through efforts such as the Beli Kreatif Danau Toba 2021 (Creative Buy of Lake Toba 2021) movement.

"We have pushed various kinds of state budget funds to boost MSMEs. This is one such collaboration to drive tourism in Lake Toba, which is a priority destination," Minister Indrawati said//ANT