Hipmi: Government Strategic Programmes Play Role in Growing Regional MSMEs
The General Chairman of the Central Executive Board (BPP) of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (Hipmi), Akbar Himawan Buchari, has stated that strategic programmes run by the government play a role in growing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in regional areas.
“Over the past three years, Hipmi has fought hard to transform amidst global economic challenges. We have successfully digitised membership, expanded access to capital and strengthened business incubation for new members in the regions,” said Akbar Himawan Buchari during the 18th Hipmi National Conference (Munas) in Bandarlampung on Wednesday.
He stated that the organisation is not only tasked with producing entrepreneurs, but also with helping to build a sustainable ecosystem so that MSMEs can upgrade and young entrepreneurs can compete at the global level.
“For this reason, Hipmi is committed to strengthening the role of MSMEs throughout Indonesia, because the majority of Hipmi members across Indonesia come from MSME backgrounds, primarily middle-class entrepreneurs,” he said.
He explained that the strategic government programmes and the President of the Republic of Indonesia’s programmes on food security, energy security, downstreaming, and Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) play a role and have a major impact on MSME growth, as well as giving birth to new entrepreneurs in the regions.
“We all know that MSMEs are the backbone of national economic growth. More than 60 percent of our GDP is contributed by MSMEs, and also more than 93 percent of our workforce is absorbed by the MSME sector. For this reason, we appreciate the government’s strategic programmes which are able to foster the growth of MSMEs in the regions, as well as give birth to new entrepreneurs there,” he stated.
According to him, the 18th Hipmi National Conference is not merely a forum for electing a general chairman, but rather a vehicle for consolidating national economic strength. It is a gathering to unite visions, align steps and strengthen ranks in supporting the government’s major agenda of achieving economic independence.
“We do not want our independence to be merely ceremonial. Therefore, the 18th Hipmi National Conference is an arena to formulate real contributions, and to ensure that Indonesia is not only politically independent, but also sovereign economically. Hipmi must stand at the very forefront to continue overseeing the government’s priority programmes; Hipmi must also remain the main locomotive of national economic development,” he added.