Coordinating Minister Cak Imin Affirms Perintis Berdaya Connect as Strategy to Boost MSME Upgrading

Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment (Menko PM) Muhaimin Iskandar has launched the Perintis Berdaya Connect (PBC) programme in Batu, East Java. The initiative is part of efforts to integrate strategies aimed at helping MSMEs move up the value chain.

Muhaimin said the PBC programme represents a collective effort to support the development of MSMEs towards becoming independent, robust, innovative and competitive.

“Perintis Berdaya Connect in Batu is part of our efforts to continue encouraging MSMEs to move up the value chain. For productive collaboration, each region certainly differs in how it nurtures and promotes MSME growth,” said Cak Imin, as Muhaimin Iskandar is commonly known, in Batu on Wednesday, 26 August 2026.

He stated that within this programme the government can play various roles, namely as an aggregator, facilitator and bridge to expand business access for MSME players.

Cak Imin said that through the PBC programme the government is also continuing to make it easier for business actors to gain access to raw materials, capital, marketing and technology in order to develop their business scale. All these components are an important part of creating and nurturing the MSME ecosystem in the regions, including Batu.

He even believes that if this concept is implemented consistently, it is not impossible that Batu could become a model region for MSME development.

In addition, he said PBC is a government step to boost the growth of the national creative economy sector through the regions. “We must certainly open the doors as wide as possible and be proactive towards potential and creative businesses so that they can be elevated,” he said.

Cak Imin also highlighted the operational pattern of the Integrated Business Service Centre for Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (PLUT-KUMKM) facility in Batu, which he assessed as having been running optimally.

He said the PLUT-KUMKM in Batu does not only operate when certain events are held, but consistently provides regular and sustainable mentoring to business actors.

“This deserves to be a model and example. A PLUT whose activities continue to grow is a model or pattern for building an ecosystem,” he said.