There is no reason for SMEs
and cooperatives for not being ready for the ASEAN free trade (ASEAN Economic
Community/AEC) which comes into effect in 2015. To that end, the government
asked SME players not to be discouraged in facing the ASEAN free market. Because
the Indonesian economy which was ranked the second position in the G-20 is the
main weapon to compete in the ASEAN market.
Braman Setyo, Production Deputy at the Ministry of
Cooperatives and SMEs, in Jakarta, Tuesday (4/3), stated that 58 million Indonesian
micro, small and medium enterprise (SME) players are expected to meet that
figure in 2014, in the next four years it is expected that they will be able to
reincarnate into companies that go international. This expectation is rational
because it is supported by the operations of Integrated Business Service Center
(PLUT) which has operating 22 locations throughout Indonesia.
As the person responsible for the development of PLUT,
Setyo said, with the number of MSMEs, their role is not surprising if in the
next four years they turn into companies that go international. The target is
facing the AEC 2015 agenda. However, he added, the development of cooperatives
and SMEs need a leverage that is able to evoke a sense of entrepreneurship,
boost productivity, competitiveness, and performance as well as reduce business
operating costs. “What we meant by “Go international” is that at least it is
able to reach the ASEAN level. To be sure, it could be a benchmark as one of
the pillars of national economic resilience”, said Setyo.
According to Setyo, relating to the implementation of AEC
2015, there will be a threat that could undermine MSMEs and cause MSMEs to
become a spectator in their own country. He mentioned that there are at least
four things that will happen with the implementation of the ASEAN free market,
namely the free flow of services, free investment, free flow of capital and
free flow of skilled labor.
It is said, that Indonesian MSMEs must face
competitiveness risk, the key is to work together to strengthen branding,
innovation and legal aspects, especially the role of export-oriented SMEs.
However, to go international, SMEs need to have management and innovation
capability. He gave an example of packaging, which becomes an important part of
product marketing. Therefore, packaging must be adjusted to market trends in
order to attract consumers. Indeed, there is operational increase, but it would
be advantageous because it is part of marketing strategy.
Meanwhile, to improve the competitiveness of cooperatives
and MSMEs, the government carried out branding development program, design
innovation and legal aspects that has reached hundreds of units. Deputy for
Marketing and Business Networking of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs,
Neddy Rafinaldy, stated that increase in the competitiveness of MSME players
has been implemented in four provinces.
The program will be continued to some other provinces
which require assistance to improve competitiveness. Especially for design
trends and branding, and design development. The four provinces that have been
implementing this aspect are Bali, South Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara and
Yogyakarta.
As for mentoring, development of design innovation and
legal aspects of product has been implemented in six provinces, namely West
Java, Central java, East Java, Yogyakarta, Bali and South Sulawesi. He said
total number of cooperatives and SME players who have got this facility is 340
units and development of product packaging has been done to 500 cooperatives and
SME players in East Java, West Java, Aceh, and Riau Archipelago. (E)
Business New - March 7, 2014
No comments:
Post a Comment