Agricom.id, MANADO – Ministry of trade is committed to cooperate and in synergy with other ministries/institutions in the central or regional government, namely with the financial institution to increase the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium business (the business) in Manado, North Sulawesi to do export.

Vice Minister of Trade, Jerry Sambuaga told that in "Kick Off Duta IKM/UMKM Go Export" event in God Bless Park, Manado, North Sulawesi, Saturday (3/10) as in the official statement to Agricom.id.

"The government should give easy access for the business, such as, credit or the stimulant. The goal is that the roles of the businesses could be bigger to develop the economy,” he said.

He also mentioned that the business needs to get easy access of finance in simpler assessment and more competitive loan interests. Every side should be in synergy to increase the competitiveness of the business in Indonesia to contribute in the exports.

Until now, the business to the exports from Indonesia is less than 10 percent. The numbers are smaller than those in other countries, such as, Swiss, China, Netherland, Japan, the United States of America, and some countries of Asean, such as, Thailand, Philippine, Malaysia, and Vietnam. It needs to empower the domestic trade, as one prior program of the government to increase the local business in export oriented without put aside the local wisdom.

"The market empowerment would be done by securing the domestic markets from the import activity, expand the markets and distribution centers, increase the obedience to the goods distribution, give chance for the business to supply the market needs for the domestic and export, and promote the product usage in the domestic,” he said.

He continued that the other is the obligation that the government should buy the domestic products, promote the exports, support the collaboration and entrepreneurship globally. It is important to give the complete information about the product marketing strategies and increasing the local product promotion which is integrated nationally through the electronic commercial platform. It is hoped that by electronic trade, the business could do non-cash transaction.

“Of course, this is our same hope if the business could export their products to many countries, namely by electronic commercial platform. They could be open to the digital use to ease the market access and increase the competition,” he said.

He also emphasized that the government would develop the business to evaluate the products so that the consumers get it. They need to have export oriented perspective and should focus to produce the added value – products, create the narration to support their brands, and be consistent about their product quality.

 “Ministry of trade would empower the representatives in other countries, such as, the attaché and Indonesian Trade Promotion Center to promote their products in where the representatives are,” he said.

The report of Small and Medium Businesses and Cooperation Agency, North Sulawesi Province revealed that in 2020, of 190.270 men, there have been new 1200 entrepreneurships. The Trade and Industry Agency, Manado City revealed that there have been 150 developed entrepreneurships. They joined some exhibitions, such as, in Jakarta and Semarang to promote their products.

In the "Kick Off Duta IKM/UMKM Go Export" event, there were some additional acts, such as, cook demonstration about abon cakalang and kue basah of Manado, such as, cucur and panada by the business. Jerry was doing the same in the acts. Mayor of Manado, Vicky Lumentut; Head of Small, Medium Business, and Cooperation Agency, North Sulawesi Province Ivanry Matu; and Head of BPOM North Sulawesi Province, Sandra MP Linthin did attend. (A2)