Samarinda, East Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Trade Ministry will continue to support East Kalimantan's exports on account of the province's diverse economic potential, the ministry's Expert Staff on Market Security, Sutriono Edi, stated.
"The ministry will support East Kalimantan to boost exports, as their diverse potential in mining, agriculture, and fisheries will benefit the people's economy," Edi stated in Samarinda on Friday.
The expert staff opined that the province still needs to enhance the training program for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), especially for the digital marketing course.
"SMEs must be assisted not only for the production process but also in terms of digital management and marketing," he noted.
Meanwhile, East Kalimantan deputy governor Hadi Mulyadi lauded the province's SMEs that remain productive despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We are proud of East Kalimantan's creative, innovative, and enthusiastic SMEs that continue to be active despite the COVID-19 pandemic," Mulyadi stated.
Related news: Some 54 MSMEs contributed to year-end exports worth Rp79.7 billion
The deputy governor remarked that 10 SMEs contributed to the province's exports this year, an increase from 2020 when only four SMEs exported their products.
"East Kalimantan also contributed Rp270 trillion (around US$18.9 billion) in exports, the second-highest in Indonesia," Mulyadi noted.
He expressed optimism that more SMEs would contribute to increasing the province's exports next year.
"Our exports will no longer depend on oil, gas, and coal," the deputy governor stated.
Moreover, East Kalimantan's Industry, Trade, Cooperatives, and SMEs Office Head HM Yadi Robyan Noor noted that encouraging SMEs to export their products is a concrete step in enhancing the exports of non-oil and gas commodities and partaking in the nation's economic recovery.
"This means the East Kalimantan government's measures are in line with the national policy to promote SMEs' activities," Noor stated.
The office head also highlighted that the advancement of East Kalimantan's SMEs was consistent with the governor's mission to achieve regional economic self-sufficiency and a fair economy for the people.
Some popular export commodities of East Kalimantan's SMEs are salted fish, crackers, waste cooking oil, frozen shrimp, dammar gum, and banana, Noor stated.
Related news: Jokowi seeks regional governments' assistance in driving exports
