Jakarta – Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo said he had prepared three strategies to ensure that Indonesian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can participate in the global economy.
During the Thursday dialogue between Ganjar and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), the presidential hopeful said these strategies require cooperation between the government, the private sector and business groups like Kadin.
The first strategy is ensuring that all SME owners fully recognize and comprehend their specific products. By doing so, the government will be able to provide proper training programs, certifications and facility support for these business owners.
The next strategy is providing limitless capital access to all SME owners who require funding to develop their businesses with more freedom. Ganjar said he was inspired by his experience as the Central Java governor when he slashed the interest rate of the micro-credit program (KUR).
"This happened in Central Java. At the time, we heard that the [bank] interest rate was too high. I eventually requested to reduce the interest rate to 7 percent. That case then inspired the interest rate cut of the national micro-credit program from 12 percent to 9 percent, before another cut to 6 percent," the former Central Java governor said, as quoted by Antara.
Ganjar's third strategy is providing intensive assistance to ensure all SMEs under the government's guidance reach the "next level." After doing so, Ganjar said he would foster new cooperation with large-scale businesses and Indonesia's diplomats abroad to popularize the elevated SME products.
Ganjar also said that developing a creative economy could boost the national economy and the number of job vacancies.
To enable the widespread development of the creative economy, the 55-year-old presidential hopeful said the availability of high-speed internet to Indonesia's outermost regions is crucial.
"We can facilitate [national development] with fast internet, so Indonesian children in the outermost regions can have access to knowledge," Ganjar said.
He also plans to establish creative hubs that allow collaborations among the Indonesian youth.