MSMEs Ministry Integrates Cross-Sectoral Services to Ease Licensing

The Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) is integrating a cross-sector service system for MSME players to make it easier for them to obtain permits and other services.

“There needs to be system integration related to cross-structural, cross-institutional services,” said Minister of UMKM Maman Abdurrahman in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Maman said that the Ministry of UMKM is utilising the Sapa UMKM (Service Application System) platform to integrate cross-sectoral services.

He explained that the system is currently being continuously updated, one of which is by establishing cooperation between ministries and institutions, because licensing for MSMEs is handled by several agencies.

Maman gave an example: MSME players who wish to apply for halal certification for their products must seek approval from the Halal Product Assurance Organising Agency (BPJPH), while for home industry food production permits (PIRT) they must go to the regional government.

For this reason, Maman said the Ministry of UMKM is currently continuing its efforts to integrate all services for MSMEs through the Sapa UMKM application.

“For example, legality and halal certification need to be integrated with the BPJPH agency. Then regarding PIRT, which is under the authority of regional governments, we are also carrying out integration,” he said.

Maman added that there are currently 12 million MSME players registered on the Sapa UMKM application, but of that number only around 15,000 have accessed and utilised it.

Maman acknowledged that the Ministry of UMKM is not rushing the implementation of the system, as this is being done to ensure that the services provided can be optimal.

“We want to take it slowly, ‘Alon-alon asal kelakon’ (slowly but surely). Because this is a big undertaking, a synergistic effort across sectors and ministries as well as institutions across the country,” he added.