Cak Imin Urges Local Governments to Provide Strategic Facilities for MSMEs

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Muhaimin Iskandar, or Cak Imin, urged all levels of government from the central to the regional to provide strategic facilities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) so they can grow and expand their markets. He made the remarks while attending the Festival Jejak Jajanan Nusantara at the South-West Parking area of the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Sunday 8 March 2026. ‘We ask, in accordance with the law, that all levels of central and local government provide adequate facilities to our MSMEs. This is a legal requirement and our commitment,’ said Cak Imin. According to him, the commitment has also received presidential approval for all levels of government to open strategic access for small business players across various sectors. He noted that he appreciates the support of various parties, including the GBK management and local governments that have helped drive similar activities in different regions. He specially praised housewives, who, in his view, play a major role as breadwinners of the family through small-scale businesses. In addition, he urged business operators to maximise the use of domestically sourced raw materials in the manufacture of food and beverages sold at the festival, to reduce dependence on imported ingredients. ‘We chose Jejak Jajanan Nusantara so that all the foods served use more domestic raw materials,’ said Cak Imin. He also encouraged greater involvement of the younger generation to become productive economic actors through various business ventures and innovations. According to him, collaborations like Jejak Jajanan Nusantara can become a model for developing people’s economy by bringing together small traders, investors, and large industry within one ecosystem. ‘We call this the Market of One Thousand and One Nights, which brings together business people, capital owners, and large industry to synergise in advancing the national economy,’ he said. Amid global economic uncertainty, Cak Imin assessed that Indonesia has great potential to strengthen the national economy through the strength of the domestic market. ‘We must stand on our own two feet. We have a large market, a large consumer base, and a vast territory. This potential must not be squandered if we are to grow a self-reliant economy,’ he concluded.