The development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) is one of the strategies to improve the capability of SMEs so that the higher grade of SMEs can be actualized. The statement was stated by Emy Widiyanti as the chairman of the national seminar entitled “Capability Improvement in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to Actualize the Higher Grade of SMEs”, Tuesday (5/17/2016). It was held by the Study Center for Cooperatives Assistance and SMEs (PSP KUMKM) LPPM Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta collaborated with Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs for Republic of Indonesia as part of The 5th UNS SME’s Summit and Awards. (Read more: The 5th UNS SME’s Summit and Awards 2016)
The event which held in Seminar room PUSDIKLAT UNS was attended by the Minister Deputy for Enterprises Restructurization Field for Republic of Indonesia, Yuana Sutyowati Barnas, as the keynote speaker. The seminar was officially opened by Vice Rector of UNS for Students and Alumni Field, Darsono. “From this seminar, we are able to know how the society in Indonesia has contributed in SMEs, how the opportunities and the problems are existed related to SMEs activities,” said Darsono.
In this occassion, Yuana explained about the importance of capability improvement to actualize the higher grade of SME’s or to make them high class, especially after entering the Asean Economic Community (AEC) started from 2015. According to Yuana, to strengthen the SMEs in AEC, the government has to do the improvement and products standardization so that Indonesia is able to compete with ASEAN countries. It should go along with the quality improvement for human resources development and the modern technology mastering.
Furthermore, Yuana also encouraged the citizens to demonstrate the steps of “Caring” and “Buying” the SMEs products. This movement is the real action to give the benefits to the SMEs. By “Caring”, the SMEs products will be strengthened to the more productive and effective accesses. By “Buying”, the citizens are able to show their support for the internal products. “We buy the products not because of the cheap price, it is because we love our own nation.” told Yuana. SMEs as the enterprises actor have to commit to do the innovation in running the business.
“By joining this event, I do hope there will be a draft for strategic guideline and SMEs development for all parties contributing in the seminar including the SMEs themselves, institute, government, and other stakeholders. (denty.red.uns.ac.id)
