More Than Virtual Hugs: Grab Indonesia Helps SMEs Go Digital

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Grab Indonesia launched a program to help small businesses adapt and grow in the new normal, where enterprises with a strong online presence are deemed to have a better chance to thrive.

It launched its #TerusUsaha program virtually on June 30 in the presence of the Indonesian Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartanto.

Deputy of Production and Marketing at the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs Victoria Simanungkalit as well as Expert Staff for Tax Supervisory at the country’s Finance Ministry Nufransa Wira Sakti.

Read also: Grab Reduces 5 Percent of Workforce Due to Coronavirus Pandemic

The #TerusUsaha (#KeepTrying) initiative includes a range of programs to accelerate, train, and improve the skills of Indonesian SMEs.

Grab Indonesia President Ridzki Kramadibrata said that 87 percent of Indonesian SMEs are still involved in brick-and-mortar (or offline) sales despite the trend indicating that consumers have become increasingly reliant on digital platforms amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Read also: Erick Thohir: Coronavirus Pandemic Pushing Indonesia to Go Digital

“They (Indonesian SMEs) must master the use of technology and start going digital to avoid falling behind,” said Grab Indonesia’s Ridzki.

Grab Indonesia’s latest program is part of its GrabForGood commitment with the objective of offering Indonesian SMEs technological access, skills improvement, and digital services.

It is also a show of Grab Indonesia’s support for President Jokowi’s #BanggaBuatanIndonesia (#ProudindonesianProducts) program.

Jokowi launched the initiative to help Indonesian SMEs engaged in offline sales to go digital.

“As many as 70,000 merchants and new agents have joined the Proud Indonesian Products program. Furthermore, around 32,000 traditional market vendors have been taken to digital platforms through GrabMart and GrabAssistant,” said Ridzki.

Coordinating Minister Airlangga Hartanto stressed the need for the public and private sectors to work together in helping Indonesia navigate the coronavirus pandemic.

Read also: Anies Baswedan: Coronavirus Pandemic Shows Benefits of Digital Technology

He added that the private sector plays a key role in supporting economic recovery.