Nezar: MSME digitalisation must drive productivity and competitiveness

Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Nezar Patria is encouraging the digitalisation of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to not only bring business owners onto digital platforms, but also to boost productivity and competitiveness.

“Previously we still used the ‘go digital’ banner, MSMEs ‘go digital’. Now I think we must move towards ‘go productive’ and ‘go competitive’,” Nezar said in an official statement received in Jakarta on Sunday.

Nezar made the remarks during the Gala Dinner and Handover of Trust (Sertinah) for the Tangan Di Atas (TDA) Community board in South Jakarta on Saturday (22/8).

Nezar believes that connectivity that delivers impact for MSMEs can be realised through the use of digital platforms to expand business activities while encouraging business owners to move up a level.

“There are many examples we can see. With ‘go productive’ and ‘go competitive’ through digital platforms, a number of MSMEs have moved up a level, a number of MSMEs have also grown big. And many have already ‘gone global’,” he said.

With national internet penetration reaching around 80.6 percent, the government is now directing the use of digital connectivity to deliver economic impact for the public.

Based on the Single Data Information System for MSMEs (SIDT-UMKM) of the Ministry of MSMEs, the number of MSMEs in Indonesia in 2025 reached 30.21 million business units.

Of that figure, 30.12 million units, or around 99.7 percent, are micro enterprises.

The large number of micro enterprises shows the importance of ensuring that the use of digital connectivity does not stop at expanding access, but is also directed towards encouraging increased productivity and competitiveness among business owners.

In the MSME context, increased productivity and competitiveness also need to be strengthened through collaboration among business owners.

Nezar considers the TDA philosophy relevant to this need because business growth cannot be achieved alone, but requires a mutually reinforcing ecosystem.

He encouraged TDA to continue strengthening networks and ecosystems that allow MSME owners to share skills, experiences, and business opportunities.