Press Release

Dekranas and Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs Collaborate to Connect Craft and Wastra Artisans from Upstream to Downstream in Creating a Business Ecosystem

Bali – The National Handicraft Council (Dekranas) and the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs (KemenKopUKM) are working together to develop regional MSMEs, including artisans in the craft and wastra sectors, as well as people with disabilities, to integrate them into a business ecosystem from upstream to downstream.

The event, themed "Cerita Kriya, also involves WhatsApp and the Indonesian Strong Women Foundation (PTI).

Held as part of the activation of Bali Collection, KemenKopUKM introduced various programs and initiatives, including the expansion of the KUR loan program, revolving funds from LPDB-KUMKM, mentoring for SME capacity development in managerial HR, business matching for cooperative SME members, issuance of NIB for micro-enterprises, and the launch of the WhatsApp chatbot Tumbuh JagoWAn.

Additionally, Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (MenkopUKM) Teten Masduki and Dekranas Chairwoman Wury Ma'ruf Amin launched the MSME catalog accessible at UKMJagoWAn.id. This chatbot and WhatsApp catalog is the result of a collaboration between the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, WhatsApp Indonesia through UKMINDONESIA.ID, and Dekranas. This technology is expected to make it easier for artisans to access educational materials anytime and anywhere, as well as create a multiplier effect from this program.

Dekranas Chairwoman Wury Ma'ruf Amin highly appreciates the contributions of various parties in developing the national handicraft industry. She emphasized that Dekranas is an independent, non-profit institution that brings together stakeholders to develop craft products, most of which are driven by MSMEs.

"This allows them to explore the potential of products with high economic value, providing opportunities for entrepreneurship and community income. Dekranas and KemenKopUKM are developing national identity through wastra and crafts, she said at the opening ceremony of Cerita Kriya, themed Empowered Artisans, Rising Indonesia, held at Art Bali, Bali Collection, The Nusa Dua, on Thursday (8/9).

The event was attended by MenkopUKM Teten Masduki, Dekranas Funding Division Member Suzana Teten Masduki, other Dekranas members, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster, Bali Dekranasda Chairwoman Putri Suastini Koster, LPDB-KUMKM Director Supomo, LLP-KUMKM (Smesco) Director Leonard Theosabrata, and KemenKopUKM deputies.

Wury hopes that this multi-stakeholder synergy will create new entrepreneurs by promoting and expanding the market for handicraft products both online and offline. She noted that handicrafts are a unique subsector of Indonesia's industry, rich in local wisdom and raw materials.

The handicraft subsector contributed 49% of total exports, amounting to USD 916 million (IDR 13.65 trillion), compared to USD 829 million (IDR 12.35 trillion) in 2020. In 2020, this subsector contributed IDR 166.3 trillion to GDP, employing approximately 3.9 million people.

Wury also supports the introduction of the WhatsApp chatbot, website, and MSME catalog accessible at UKMJagoWAn.id for MSMEs. She hopes that technological convenience will serve as a concrete step toward transforming craft and wastra artisans into the digital platform. "I am optimistic that our national handicraft products will increasingly dominate both domestic and international markets, she concluded.

Similarly, MenkopUKM Teten Masduki emphasized the importance of connecting regional MSME artisans in the craft, wastra, and disability sectors to a sustainable business ecosystem. This will empower disabled entrepreneurs and help artisans level up, strengthening the regional economy and boosting national pride in global markets.

"Through the Cerita Kriya program, we aim to create an inclusive ecosystem linking craft MSMEs with aggregators who consolidate business processes, such as factory sharing, joint packaging houses, digital onboarding, and market trend analysis, enabling exports to global markets, MenkopUKM stated.

Furthermore, Minister Teten said that this program supports the expansion of the digital ecosystem as part of MSME and productive disability empowerment initiatives.

"This collaboration with WhatsApp Indonesia and the Indonesian Strong Women Foundation is an effort to establish a digital ecosystem for artisan MSMEs and people with disabilities. This aligns with President Jokowi's goal of integrating 30 million MSMEs into the digital economy by 2024, Minister Teten stated.

To achieve this, MenkopUKM encourages private sector involvement, such as WhatsApp and PTI Foundation, to provide platforms that integrate disability artisans into the global craft value chain.

"Dekranas plays a crucial role in supporting MSMEs through training, mentoring, business registration (NIB), and access to KUR loans. These efforts aim to modernize the craft and wastra sectors, making them more resilient and dynamic market drivers, he emphasized.

Also present at the event, Clair Deevy, Global Director for Social Impact at WhatsApp, reiterated WhatsApp's commitment to supporting the Indonesian government in empowering MSMEs to go digital and scale up their businesses.

"We believe that MSMEs in Indonesia have the digital capacity and are ready to participate in the country's digital economy ecosystem. MSMEs that engage in online interactions and marketing can sustain and expand their businesses in an increasingly competitive market, Deevy said.

Clair added that the WhatsApp chatbot Tumbuh JagoWAn will help MSMEs across Indonesia learn how to go digital, scale up, and obtain certifications at any time, free of charge.

Additionally, trained and developed MSMEs can apply to be featured on the curated UKMJagoWAn.id website, providing them with a sustainable platform for training, market expansion, and promotion of local Indonesian MSMEs.

Cerita Kriya was held at Art Bali, Bali Collection, The Nusa Dua, Bali.

The Nusa Dua area is an integrated tourism complex managed by PT Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), a state-owned enterprise (BUMN) that also developed The Mandalika in Lombok, NTB. As a world-class tourism complex, The Nusa Dua has been a trusted venue for numerous international events.

Source: Kemenkopukm