Indonesian minister urges broader credit access for MSMEs outside Java
Indonesia's MSME Minister Maman Abdurrahman called for financing and business support to reach more entrepreneurs outside Java, saying businesses across the country should have equal opportunities to develop.
Credit and business assistance
Speaking in Badung, Bali, on October 29, 2026, the minister of micro, small, and medium enterprises said support policies must account for Indonesia's geographic reach and regional differences, ANTARA reported.
"Indonesia is not only Java, but Indonesia consists of a wide diversity and a remarkably vast territory," Abdurrahman said.
In his assessment, credit alone cannot give entrepreneurs equal opportunities. They also need guidance to put financing to productive use and sustain their businesses' growth. He called for cooperation between central and regional governments and financial institutions to deliver support suited to businesses' needs.
Connecting services through Sapa UMKM
The ministry is developing Sapa UMKM, an already-launched digital platform that brings business support services together. Abdurrahman said an integrated approach must accommodate differences in entrepreneurs' business circumstances, management capabilities and access to local support facilities.
"We are preparing an ecosystem for empowering MSMEs that connects business improvement, legality, certification, digitalization, financing, and market access for MSMEs in one digital platform that we have already launched, called Sapa UMKM," he said.
Laksmi support for women entrepreneurs
The government's efforts also include stronger support for women microentrepreneurs through Laksmi, short for Inclusive Micro Business Capacity Acceleration Steps, and an exchange for top entrepreneurs. Laksmi combines entrepreneurship skills development with connections to potential financing and business partners.
The ministry introduced the Laksmi Program 2026 at Surabaya's East Java Cultural Park on September 23, 2026, according to The Jakarta Post. It targets women microentrepreneurs from Beneficiary Families (KPM) enrolled in the Family Hope Program (PKH).
At the launch, PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM) and the Ministry of MSMEs signed a memorandum of understanding. Abdurrahman and Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf witnessed the signing.
The Jakarta Post reported that the initial launch covers approximately 500 women microentrepreneurs, 250 of whom are PNM customers. The first stage of assistance includes helping participants join Sapa UMKM.