The B20 would bring a lot of benefits to the Indonesian economy because the events held by the forum would enable the Indonesian business community to get international exposure to promote their brands overseas.
By
MUHAMMAD FAJAR MARTA
·3 minutes read
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Along with its position as the president of the Group of 20 in 2022, Indonesia has also been appointed to host the B20 forum, which represents the business community in G20 countries. The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), the organizer of the B20 forum, said it did not only represent elite businesses and large corporations but also micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
"This forum is not only for elite businessmen but will also promote the interests of MSMEs so that they can grow even more," said Kadin chair Arsjad Rasjid, who is also the chair of the Indonesian B20 advisory board, at a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday (18/1/2022).
Kadin’s vice chair for maritime, investment and foreign affairs, Shinta Kamdani, who is also the chair of B20 Indonesia, Bernardino Vega, the chairman of the B20 steering committee, and Tony Wenas, the chief executive of the B20, were also present at the meeting.
Arsjad said this year's B20 event was the first to be led by a developing country. Therefore, the forum served as an important opportunity to voice the interests of companies in developing countries, which mostly consisted of MSMEs, he said. According to him, one of the concrete steps that will be taken during the series of B20 meetings to be held this year is to increase the capacity of MSMEs, especially micro and small businesses, to enable them to upgrade from the informal to formal categories so that they can have access to financial institutions. In addition, the B20 forum also promotes MSME products to the international world so that more MSMEs can export products at competitive prices.
According to Arsjad, the role of MSMEs will be promoted in accordance with Indonesia's B20 theme, namely encouraging innovative, inclusive and collaborative global growth.
"In accordance with the G20, Indonesia's B20 will also work on three main priorities, namely global health, digital transformation and energy transition," he said.
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Shinta Kamdani
The Indonesian B20 events will officially be marked by the holding of an inception meeting on 27 and 28 Jan. 2022, which will also be opened by President Joko
“Jokowi” Widodo. Throughout 2022, around 50 meetings will be held and will culminate in the B20 Summit in October 2022 in Bali.
Shinta Kamdani said the B20 would bring a lot of benefits to the Indonesian economy because the events held by the forum would enable the Indonesian business community to get international exposure to promote their brands overseas.
"We can also promote Indonesia's economic potential and business climate, which in turn will attract investment. In addition, business matchmaking will also be held to attract foreign investors to support local MSMEs," said Shinta.
Indonesia will also obtain financial benefits in the form of foreign exchange earnings when the summit meeting is held in Bali. The country can also show the international world the success of Indonesia's structural and fiscal reforms in the midst of the pandemic.
This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.
