Digitization encourages the industrial world and MSMEs to adapt

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – During the B20 Forum panel discussion, the importance of digital capabilities, including for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and start local. The aim is for digitization to bring benefits to all parties, including small business players.

The Vice Chairman of the B20 Digitization Task Force as well as the Director of Digital Affairs of PT Telkom Indonesia, Fajrin Rasyid, said that the increase in digital literacy and capabilities of players MSME important with the current acceleration of digitization.

“In line with the ‘No One Left Behind’ commitment, everyone has the right to have access to digital platforms. Therefore, everyone must work together to improve two things, namely literacy at the individual level and at the MSME level, and increase the capacity of MSMEs to recognize and use the digital platform for their business,” he said at the G20 side event initiated by the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs (KemenKopUKM ) with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (Kadin) titled B20 Indonesia Digital Economy to Support SDGs in a Hybrid Way, Monday (8/8/2022).

He went on to say that improving literacy and digital skills from an early age must be a government concern. This, he continued, should increase the number of digital talents.

“Every year we are short of at least 600,000 digital talents. Therefore, I think policyholders can integrate digital topics into a curriculum at the education level, for workers. Workers also need to develop their digital skills in various related sectors,” he said. .

Fajrin said that Indonesia itself already has a strategy to accelerate the digitization of MSME players.

“The strategy of promoting digital literacy for MSME actors can be implemented by increasing digital literacy skills and enhance digital capabilities, and direct the use of the Platform, to conduct business activities, one of which funding,” he explained.

India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma said that by embracing digital technology, his party is strongly supporting the MSME ecosystem and local startups. This is also done in order to allow local products to grow faster through digitalization.

This is certainly a lesson for Indonesia. Indonesia is seen as in need of implementing digitization for MSME players and supporting the empowerment of local startups.

Meanwhile, Global Business Group Director for Southeast Asia at Meta, Dhruv Vohra, added that the government can improve the digital capabilities of MSME players by creating an enabling digital ecosystem environment comprising a infrastructure, internet and affordable devices.

“It’s an improvisation that can be done by government and business by investing in upskilling digital talent,” he said.

Meanwhile, Evermos chairman/co-founder Arip Tirta said joining a marketplace store was one of the first steps in digitizing MSME players. According to him, what entrepreneurs need to remember today is to start solving problems.

This is what Evermos has done, where digital technology will help open up access and connect MSMEs with resellers.

He pointed out that the demographic bonus that occurred in Indonesia was also a distinct advantage due to the growing number of digital talents in Indonesia.

It is said to be optimized by the government and companies to jointly improve the digital atmosphere in Indonesia to make it better.