The Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs (KemenkopUKM), in collaboration with the National Handicraft Council (Dekranas) Funding Division and supported by various partners, including the Revolving Fund Management Institution for Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (LPDB-KUMKM), the Marketing Services Agency for Cooperatives and SMEs (Smesco Indonesia), the Indonesian Strong Women Foundation (PTI), WhatsApp Indonesia, and Indonesian MSMEs, organized a synergy event themed "Cerita Kriya” in Bali on Thursday (September 8, 2022). The selection of Bali as the center of this activity reflects the government’s support in accelerating the recovery and strengthening of the island.
As widely known, Bali, which relies heavily on the tourism sector, was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The tourism industry in Bali has significantly contributed to the national economy and generated substantial foreign exchange revenue for the country.
Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, Teten Masduki, stated that the synergy between KemenkopUKM and the Dekranas Funding Division in Bali aims to empower and strengthen the independence of Indonesian craft MSMEs in line with the growth of the digital economy. This program serves as a gateway for cross-sector collaboration, providing opportunities for local craft MSMEs to accelerate their potential and transition to digital platforms.
"When discussing financial literacy and the digital economy, the process is more comprehensive when leveraging digital technology for MSME and cooperative business operations. Indonesian craft MSMEs will become stronger and more independent by going digital. Therefore, more digital innovators are needed,” said Teten.
Currently, the utilization of digital economies is a focal point for developing Indonesian craft MSMEs and cooperatives. Digitalization, driven by innovators, has proven to empower millions of MSMEs despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chairwoman of Dekranas, Wury Ma’ruf Amin, emphasized that this year’s program theme, "Cerita Kriya,” focuses on strengthening the craft sub-sector ecosystem from upstream to downstream. This includes production, financing, marketing, and institutional aspects such as cooperatives. The most crucial aspect, she noted, is digital transformation for entrepreneurs.
"We are also working with our friends with disabilities, who have made significant contributions to the craft sector, to help them grow and find their market through the 'Cerita Kriya' program,” Wury explained.
In 2022, with support from KemenkopUKM, Dekranas has trained more than 500 government facilitators/trainers, targeting over 900,000 MSMEs. "These MSMEs are then trained to eventually export their products, as seen with the graduates of this program,” she added.
The collaboration between Dekranas and KemenkopUKM has been ongoing since 2019. However, in 2020, both parties agreed to redesign the initiative for greater sustainability and a more ecosystem-strengthening approach for entrepreneurs. "From 2020 to 2021, we focused on strengthening Indonesia’s Wastra (traditional textiles) in line with Dekranas' work focus, under the theme 'Cerita Wastra,’” she stated.
Myra Winarko, Chairwoman of PTI, highlighted that the opportunities provided by KemenkopUKM and Dekranas could create pathways for 31 million people with disabilities in Indonesia.
For reference, PTI functions as a business incubator for people with disabilities. This is why KemenkopUKM and Dekranas have partnered with PTI to continue sustainable initiatives that support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through digital economy empowerment.
"God willing, we will take on the Minister’s challenge in building a digital ecosystem for people with disabilities from upstream to downstream,” Myra stated.
PTI has been actively supporting disability communities across Indonesia, including a mental retardation disability community in Bandung, West Java, that produces salted eggs. Additionally, PTI has conducted training for makeup artists for the hearing and speech impaired, painting courses, and culinary training. Many graduates from PTI's training programs have gained independence, and some have even entered the professional workforce.
As a business incubator, PTI also collaborates with large corporations and banking institutions to provide ongoing training and digital marketing support.
"Moving forward, we even plan to create our own platform in addition to providing training programs for people with disabilities, enabling them to enter the digital world independently,” Myra concluded. (RO/E-1)
