Upgrading Indonesian Micro-Businesses in Market Access and Funding

Jakarta, Aug 4. An overwhelming percentage of the workforce in Indonesia works in ‘Micro-businesses’. They face challenge on insufficient market access and a shortage of funding that hinder them to grow. Since the bulk of the population works in this sector, a concrete solution is needed to take micro-businesses to the next level.

Offering a solution, James Digby, Co-Founder of Denmark-based Rockstart Accelerator, said that the micro-financing industry demands entrepreneurial talent, something that enables it not to merely channel money but also able to ensure money invested is used wisely to develop both the micro- and small-enterprises themselves and the communities around them.

On the same occasion, Bahrain’s Dr. Atef Elshabrawy, Global Expert, MENA Region, International Council for Small Business, believes that small businesses must go global and become multinational companies. In his opinion, such internationalization of small businesses is not difficult today, as the world has changed with the internet, and most founders of small businesses or startups are well-educated, quality-oriented, creative and innovative.

Using the Indonesian wisdom of ‘Gotong-royong’ social solidarity, Sandiaga S. Uno‎, Vice Chairman, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Cooperatives and Creative Economy, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has offered a new platform known as the ‘Solidarity Economy Platform’. He encouraged small businesses to gain benefits from this platform to enhance their operations, broaden access to capital and embrace technology.