By It is necessary to share knowledge, exchange information, for the sake of advancing MSMEs and cooperatives in D-8 countries
Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry explored cooperation opportunities in bolstering the capacity of cooperatives and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the Developing Eight Group (D-8).
“Our cooperation will provide benefits to D-8 countries since each of us wield advantages and potentials,” the ministry’s Secretary-General, Arif Rahman Hakim, noted in a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He made the statement during a meeting with D-8 Secretary-General Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam in Jakarta on Monday.
Hakim noted that the D-8 Group consists of eight Muslim-majority developing countries that share the vision of intensifying cooperation in development.
The eight countries are Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.
According to Hakim, the D-8 expected that cooperation with Indonesia would significantly benefit people in D-8 countries, especially those running MSMEs and cooperatives.
Currently, Indonesia is investing efforts to boost the capacity of its MSME and cooperative actors, he remarked.
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“The government has several priority programs, including those that aim to strengthen the business legality and supply chain of small and medium enterprises, support cooperatives to transform into modern corporations, and produce one million new businesses,” he noted.
Bearing that in mind, he deemed it important for D-8 countries to exchange information on their respective measures for empowering MSMEs and cooperatives in the cooperation exploration processes.
“It is necessary to share knowledge, exchange information, for the sake of advancing MSMEs and cooperatives in D-8 countries. I believe that each country has notable experience in implementing policies,” he remarked.
Secretary-General Imam, on his part, stated that the D-8 Group would place its focus on developing MSMEs by involving all member countries.
He said that MSMEs have been playing a crucial role in economic development in D-8 countries while noting that 99 percent of business players in Indonesia are those running MSMEs.
The secretary-general then emphasized the importance of investing even greater efforts to develop MSMEs in D-8 countries in the hopes of improving the welfare of people. He also welcomed the plan to hold a related meeting in 2025.
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