Deputy Home Affairs Minister: UMKM data integration strengthens the business ecosystem
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto applauded the launch of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Service Application System, or SAPA UMKM, as a step to strengthen the business ecosystem through data integration and cross-sector collaboration.
Bima highlighted UMKM data problems that remain a challenge in many regions. Data for UMKM actors across regional government agencies are often different, making mentoring and business development difficult.
‘TWhen talking about UMKM data, the data vary. Sometimes the differences are extreme,’ Bima said in a statement in Jakarta on Friday.
This was said as he attended the launch of SAPA UMKM in support of the Welfare of the People Program (Pro-Kesra) in the Djunaedi Hadisumarto Meeting Room, Office of the National Development Planning Agency (PPN)/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), Jakarta, Thursday (21/5).
He explained that this condition makes regional governments difficult in designing the right mentoring steps, ranging from licensing assistance to expanding market access for UMKM actors.
In addition, Bima said the diverse characteristics of UMKM require different approaches in the development process.
‘UMKM indeed vary in their variants, Sir. The approach is different, the rhythm is different as well,’ he said.
Bima also urged strengthening a collaborative working pattern (co-creation) involving government, private sector, higher education institutions, and communities in designing solutions for UMKM actors.
‘When there is one platform where everyone can sit together, building the principle of co-creation, this is also several steps forward,’ Bima said.
Nevertheless, he stressed that the program’s success depends on the active involvement of local governments, especially in updating and sustainably leveraging UMKM data.
According to Bima, regional heads play an important role in updating and modernising UMKM data continuously because they are the parties who best understand ground conditions and the needs of business actors in their respective regions.
Finally, Bima assured that the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) will support and oversee the implementation of SAPA UMKM so that it can be utilised optimally by regional administrations.
‘Kemendagri, God willing, will oversee this. We will ensure that regional heads push this so it can be used by our colleagues in the regions,’ he said.