Jakarta (VNA) – The number ofsmall and medium enterprises (SMEs) using online platforms for their businessin Indonesia has risen to around 10.2 million as the COVID-19 pandemic speedsup digitalisation, a minister has said.
During a recent virtual discussion, IndonesianCooperative and SMEs Minister Teten Masduki said the share of SMEs using onlineplatforms rose to 16 percent from 13 percent as recorded early this year, addingthat this is quite a big improvement.
SMEs that successfully adapt to the newconsumer patterns and create product innovation are expected to get out of thiscrisis. With such an increase, the Indonesian government has met its target ofhaving 10 million small businesses utilising online platforms this year.
The country’s small businesses, whichaccount for more than 60 percent of gross domestic product and employ amajority of the labour force, have been hit by the COVID-19 outbreak, as theeconomy enters into recession following economic contractions recorded in thesecond and third quarter.
At the same time, the rise in onlinecommerce among small businesses has taken place as many consumers avoidvisiting bricks-and-mortar stores and move to online shopping platforms tocomply with the social-distancing orders during the pandemic.
The volume of transactions on e-commercerose by around 39 percent to 383 million in the first and second quarters,according to Indonesian Creative Economy and Tourism Minister Wishnutama,quoting data from Bank Indonesia./.
