The contribution of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) to investment continues to increase. During the first six months of 2024 (Semester I-2024), there were 2.4 million MSE projects with an investment value of Rp127 trillion.
The Ministry of Investment/Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) noted that in the January-June 2024 period, MSE projects managed to absorb 4.69 million workers.
“From January to June, a total of 2.4 million projects were entered, with a value of Rp127 trillion for the employment of 4,696,618 people,” said Investment Minister/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia in Jakarta, Monday (29/7/2024).
Of the micro and small business projects in Semester I-2024, Bahlil said that it was still dominated by the trade and repair sector worth Rp46.5 trillion. Furthermore, the services sector contributed Rp24.8 trillion, hotels and restaurants Rp13 trillion, construction Rp11.9 trillion, and food crops Rp7 trillion.
Meanwhile, when broken down by location, West Java Province is the province with the largest progress in MSE investment development, with a project value of Rp22.1 trillion.
Outside MSEs, BKPM noted that investment in January-June 2024 (first semester) realized amounted to IDR 829.9 trillion and succeeded in absorbing as many as 1.225 million workers. The labor absorption was dominated by domestic investment (PMDN) with an investment value of Rp408.2 trillion and absorbed 738,202 Indonesian workers. Meanwhile, foreign investment (PMA) realized in the first semester amounted to Rp421.7 trillion with the absorption of 486,840 workers.
Banking Credit
Although the investment value of MSE projects is relatively small, in terms of employment, Bahlil admitted the large contribution of the MSE sector which reached 4.69 million workers. Therefore, he hopes that banks can increase the provision of credit or capital facilities to the MSE sector.
Bahlil said, of the total credit / lending disbursed by banks of Rp6,300 trillion, only 18 percent was channeled to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“So if we give more capital with banking facilitation, then this is the best instrument to create jobs. Even if wages are still minimum wage,” he said. (ant)