9 Million Micro Enterprises Receive Cash Assistance from Government

Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Teten Masduki delivers a press statement at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Wednesday (7/10). (Photo by: Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat)

Productive Presidential Assistance for Micro Enterprises has been fully disbursed to 9 million beneficiaries, Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Teten Masduki has announced.

“As of 6 October (2020) or about two months from the launching date, the Productive Presidential Assistance for Micro Enterprises has been disbursed 100 percent. Based on the ADB (Asian Development Bank)’s survey, the assistance is the most appropriate and needed program for micro businesses affected (by the COVID-19 pandemic),” the Minister said in a press statement at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Wednesday (7/10).

According to him, thanks to support from various parties including the Association of State-owned Banks (Himbara), cooperatives, regional governments, and related ministries/institutions that provided mentoring programs for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), the cash assistance can be quickly disbursed.

Teten said that the Ministry has received many inputs from regional governments. For that reason, the assistance program will be carried on to be disbursed to 12 million micro enterprises.

“This week, we will start distributing it to 3 million more (micro enterprises),” he said adding that the disbursement will also focus on the aspects of inter-regional equity, accuracy of target, and speed that are expected to support national economic recovery.

He also said that the program has been disbursed right on target due to strict data validation process. The disbursement to 3 million more micro enterprises is expected to help MSMEs to get working capital and to survive during the pandemic.

On that occasion, the Minister told those who have not received the Presidential Assistance to register themselves to cooperative and MSMEs units or other related institutions in their respective regions. (COVID-19 Mitigation and National Economic Recovery Committee Communication Team/UN)

Translated by : Rany Anjany
Reviewed by: Mia Medyana. B.