BRI CEO Highlights MSME Development as National Priority

Strengthening MSMEs for Economic Growth

Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) CEO Hery Gunardi emphasized that strengthening the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector is Indonesia's primary task to increase the number of entrepreneurs. Currently, Indonesia's entrepreneur ratio stands at less than 4% of the total population, significantly lower than developed nations like Japan and the United States where the ratio exceeds 10-12%.

Key Factors for MSME Development

Hery identified two critical factors for MSME growth:

1. Systematic and Continuous Mentoring: Providing clear guidance to help MSMEs upscale their businesses
2. Market Access Expansion: Opening both domestic and international market opportunities to help MSMEs broaden their business reach and scale

BRI's Strategic Initiative: UMKM BRI x SOGO - Wastra Nusantara

To address these needs, BRI has launched the UMKM BRI x SOGO - Wastra Nusantara program in collaboration with SOGO department store. This initiative provides:

• Direct Market Access: 26 selected MSMEs are showcasing their products at SOGO Central Park Jakarta
• Promotional Support: Participants receive promotional assistance from SOGO
• Capacity Building: BRI provides further empowerment programs to enhance business capabilities

Industry Impact and Future Plans

SOGO Indonesia CEO Handaka Santosa stated that this collaboration is a strategic step to expand marketing access for national MSMEs. The program is designed to help MSME products compete in modern retail environments. Hery Gunardi added that BRI will continue to expand similar partnerships to create more opportunities for small businesses across Indonesia.