Indonesia UMKM sector sees digital growth and training surge

Indonesia's Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) is implementing several strategic programs to address challenges in legality, certification, digital access, and financing. Minister Maman Abdurrahman emphasized that small businesses should prioritize mastering the domestic market to ensure product quality and consistency before attempting to expand into global export markets.

A key initiative, the SAPA UMKM platform, has registered approximately 12.8 million businesses. The program aims to accelerate digitalization by providing access to marketplaces and offering incentives, such as a 50% reduction in marketplace service fees for verified domestic products.

Additionally, PT Pertamina (Persero) reported a significant surge in interest for its UMK Academy 2026 program. Following the registration deadline on August 31, 2026, more than 4,000 MSMEs applied, nearly doubling the participation seen in 2025. Selected participants will undergo a structured two-stage training process at both regional and national levels to enhance their business management capabilities.