Grab Encourages Market Traders to Sell Through Its App

GRAB continues to encourage micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in traditional markets to leverage digital business opportunities. “Starting from vegetable sellers, fishmongers, to household needs vendors, they can all enter the digitalisation ecosystem with Grab. We support all of them, not just Grab Food merchants,” said Yose Tireza Arizal, Head of Expansion Territory at Grab Indonesia, at the Banjarmasin City Hall, South Kalimantan, on Thursday, 18 June 2026.

The statement was made by Yose while reporting on the implementation of the “Kota Masa Depan Berani Digital” (Future City Brave Digital) programme. Yose explained that Kota Masa Depan is a mentoring programme aimed at accelerating the digitalisation of MSMEs. The goal is for MSME entrepreneurs to contribute to regional economic income.

Yose stated that since its inception in 2021, Grab has rolled out the Kota Masa Depan Berani Digital programme in 17 cities, with a total of over 200,000 MSME entrepreneurs participating as mentees. In Banjarmasin, Yose noted, the mentoring programme was conducted from April to May 2026. Over these four months, Grab carried out activities including digital business guidance, marketing training, and financial literacy, including access to capital.

Meanwhile, Yogia Prihartini, Assistant Deputy for Supply Chain and Small Business Marketing Partnerships at the Ministry of MSMEs, stated that Indonesia is one of the countries with the largest digital economies in Southeast Asia. She estimated the value of Indonesia’s digital economy reaches US$100 billion. This growth is driven by the rapid development of e-commerce, digital transportation and delivery services, and digital payments.

According to Yogia, the ability to utilise technological innovation presents an opportunity for MSMEs to upgrade. For instance, the use of digital transportation allows entrepreneurs to reduce operational costs, expand market reach, optimise data and information management, and enhance collaboration or partnerships. Furthermore, Yogia cited the opportunity to sell through e-commerce. She noted that around 215 million Indonesians are active internet users. “This figure makes Indonesia one of the largest digital markets and online shopping user bases in the Asian region,” she said.

Meanwhile, Banjarmasin Deputy Mayor Ananda assessed that MSMEs capable of adapting to technological developments will have greater opportunities to grow and survive amidst increasingly dynamic competition. Ananda stated that entrepreneurs are now required to adapt to changes in consumer consumption patterns and marketing methods in order to compete in the market. “Digitalisation is not a replacement for the trading methods that have been working well so far, but rather a means to expand business opportunities,” he said.