Home Affairs Minister Praises KURMA as a Platform for Empowering MSMEs in Kepri

Kepri, which shares borders with neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore, has a strong opportunity to boost its regional economy by marketing MSME products abroad. Tanjungpinang (ANTARA) – Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian praised the Kepulauan Riau Ramadhan Fair (KURMA) 2026 as a platform for empowering MSMEs in the Tanjungpinang City and Batam City areas. ‘MSMEs are a real sector that forms the backbone of the economy nationally,’ said the Minister when closing KURMA 2026 at Taman Gurindam 12, Tanjungpinang, Kepri, on Sunday. Tito reflected back to the COVID-19 pandemic when many business sectors were hit hard, incurring losses or folding, but MSMEs remained able to endure and even helped maintain Indonesia’s economic stability. He cited Yogyakarta, where the economy continued to grow positively during the COVID-19 pandemic, relying on the MSME sector without large-scale industry. In addition, the former head of the police praised KURMA 2026 for presenting a variety of local creative economy products, from handicrafts to traditional Malay cuisine. He said the KURMA event is very positive as it provides a space for interaction and community entertainment, especially given its seaside location with natural scenery and fresh air. ‘Hopefully KURMA will contribute to national economic growth, particularly Kepri,’ Tito added. This year, KURMA was held from 2-8 March 2026 in Batam and Tanjungpinang. According to Ansar, the organisation of KURMA is an effort to promote Islamic economic growth, strengthen the role of MSMEs, and support the development of halal tourism and Kepri’s culture. KURMA 2026 is the third edition, reflecting collaboration and synergy between the Kepri Provincial Government, the Regional Committee for Islamic Economic and Financial Affairs (KDEKS) Kepri, Bank Indonesia Kepri Representative, OJK Kepri, and other stakeholders. Through KURMA 2026, Ansar said, the public is not only treated to a festival of MSME foods but also various Ramadan competitions, Islamic financial education, public services for communities and MSMEs, and the ‘Gerakan Pangan Murah’ (GPM) programme. ‘This step is part of the regional government’s synergy with vertical agencies and KDEKS Kepri to strengthen community economics,’ Ansar stated. On the same occasion, Tito, accompanied by Governor Ansar, also observed the GPM selling staple goods at low prices and handed over halal slaughter certificates and social assistance of rice and cooking oil to community representatives at KURMA 2026.