Vice Chair of MPR States that SMEs Must Be Optimised in MICE Supply Chain

Jakarta — Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono, Vice Chair of the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR RI), has stated that micro, small, and medium enterprise (SMSE) business actors must be optimised through partnerships within the meetings, incentive, convention, and exhibition (MICE) event supply chain.

He noted that MICE activities possess significant potential as an economic driver. However, the supply chain for MICE events remains underdeveloped and requires strengthening to involve more local SMEs, particularly those engaged in creative economy activities led by women.

“MICE events should not merely mobilise large hotels and venues. Culinary SMEs, craft enterprises, fashion businesses, creative services, and tourism villages must be integrated into the supply chain,” Ibas stated in a written statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He emphasised that partnership constitutes the key principle. To this end, SMEs must be connected with event organisers, hotels, regional governments, and MICE industry actors.

“The ecosystem must be constructed. The supply chain must be fair and inclusive,” he said.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to continuously advancing SMEs through ongoing mentoring, market access expansion, and policies that create more equitable opportunities for small business operators to compete effectively with large industries.

According to him, SMEs with distinctly Indonesian characteristics and identity represent a national economic force that must be strengthened to penetrate global markets whilst simultaneously serving as drivers of sustainable regional economic growth.

He further hoped that synergy amongst women’s organisations, communities, regional governments, and industry actors could accelerate the growth of the creative economy and establish East Java as an inclusive MICE centre anchored in local strengths.