February 23&24, 2022 / Online Event
Indonesia-Japan Policy Research Forum for Asia “Enhancing MSMEs’ Innovation and Competitiveness: The Role of Finance and Digital Technology”
Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are struggling to survive the significant negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. MSMEs suffered most severely while they are the backbone of the economy by absorbing a major share of labor force and contributing to GDP. The COVID-19 pandemic reminds us of the importance of MSMEs with a particular emphasis on resilience as well as inclusiveness and sustainability.
Long-standing challenges facing MSMEs include technological literacy and lack of financial resources. Adoption of digital technology requires the ability to use, manage, understand, and assess technology as well as the access to needed financing. Digital technology once adopted successfully is expected to enhance MSMEs’ innovation and competitiveness, which would also ensure MSMEs’ resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability.
Wednesday, February 23 | 10:30-14:55 (Tokyo time) or 8:30-12:55 (Jakarta time)
Thursday, February 24 | 10:30-14:15 (Tokyo time) or 8:30-12:15 (Jakarta time)
Language: English with Indonesian simultaneous interpretation
Register here.
The Forum organizes a two-day virtual workshop, comprising of interactive presentations and group discussions, by bringing together senior policy makers from Asian countries, who are responsible for designing and implementing policies for MSMEs. The objective is to strengthen the capacity of officials in designing and implementing policies to enhance MSMEs’ innovation and competitiveness. Workshop participants will also include various stakeholders and such resource persons as experts from multilateral institutions, the private sector, and academia. This workshop is expected to help promote sharing of knowledge and experiences between stakeholders from Asia and Japan.
Indonesia-Japan Policy Research Forum for Asia is a collaboration between Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), Institute for Economic and Social Research, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia (LPEM FEB UI) and The University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP) with the support of the Toshiba International Foundation.
Toshiba International Foundation (TIFO), a public interest incorporated foundation, provides LPEM with financial support to co-host this workshop under the name of “Enhancing MSMEs’ Innovation and Competitiveness: The Role of Digital Technology.”
