Co-operatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Minister Teten Masduki affirmed that e-commerce in Indonesia must emulate state-owned department store Sarinah’s commitment to procuring 100 percent of their exhibited products from domestic sources.
“Sarinah, whose 100 percent of the exhibited products are made by small and medium enterprises, currently recorded a surge in their visitor numbers. I think e-commerce in Indonesia must emulate Sarinah,” Masduki stated during the Digital Economic Forum event here on Monday.
The minister remarked that the perception that only major and foreign brands could attract buyers has been disproved by Sarinah that is successful with only domestic products.
The minister pointed out that various domestic-made producers have created products with quality at par with that of foreign-made products.
The ministry is committed to providing assistance on product curation as well as cooperating and collaborating with relevant stakeholders to develop quality products made by domestic small and medium enterprises, he remarked.
“I believe Indonesia’s market is huge, and I am convinced we will not incur losses if we focus on selling only domestic products,” Masduki remarked.
The minister remarked that efforts to support small and medium enterprises’ products are consistent with President Joko Widodo’s instruction to elevate domestic products and lessen dependence on foreign-made products.
“President Jokowi has said that e-commerce must be flooded with small and medium enterprises. This is appropriate, yet it needs commitment from e-commerce operators because the markets will depend on who is the host,” he affirmed.
In concert with Masduki, Minister of Communications and Informatics Johnny G. Plate also noted that e-commerce in Indonesia must provide more space for domestic products.
“I urge the Indonesia E-Commerce Association (idEA) to push e-commerce to take internal measures necessary to ensure policies taken will advantage (domestic producers) as well as take affirmative actions to purchase domestic products,” Plate stated.
Source: Antara News