Business and

Business and globalization

From Suara Karya

Millions of Indonesians rely on small and medium-size businesses for a living, with these businesses accounting for 94 percent of business activity in Indonesia.

Unfortunately, small and medium-size businesses are yet to tap to the maximum the facilities of the banking sector. Also, the government seems to be half-hearted about boosting these businesses. Understandably, small and medium-size businessmen find it hard to receive capital assistance to develop their businesses.

In the past, the government helped big businesses, which account for only 0.01 percent of business activity in Indonesia. The result is a backlog of debts sustained by these big businessmen amounting to over Rp 700 trillion, which is why the country has been thrown into a deep economic crisis.

With the country still in the throes of a deep economic crisis, it is small and medium-size businesses that have survived despite not being supported by the banks.

With the era of liberalized trade soon arriving, the government must realize that only businesses with a competitive edge can perform well in the global market. In this context, the government must see to it that Indonesia has human resources qualified to respond to the global challenges.

ANDI SYAMSUDDIN ASHAR

South Sulawesi