The Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs considers the interest rate of Micro People's Business Credit (KUR), which has decreased to 21% per year, still quite high. Ideally, the interest rate for micro-small businesses should be in the range of 11-15%. This was stated in Gorontalo. On that occasion, a partner of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, Perum Jamkrindo, also provided Environmental Development assistance amounting to Rp50 million.
“We are striving to lower the KUR interest rate to 11% to make it fair. Because even large entrepreneurs can get an 11% interest rate from the bank,” said Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs AAGN Puspayoga during his speech at one of the cooperatives in Gorontalo on Saturday (30/5).
Puspayoga continues to push for lower KUR interest rates so that micro, small, medium enterprises, and cooperatives (UMKMK) can allocate profits not for paying interest but for adding capital. “Moreover, if we look at the NPL (non-performing loan) data from UMKMK, which is relatively lower than that of large businesses, the interest rate should be further reduced,” he said.
To expand credit accessibility to UMKMK, Deputy for Business Development and Restructuring at the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, Braman Setyo, said that the government has a solution. Namely, by issuing the Micro and Small Business License Card (IUMK). “We are targeting the IUMK card to reach 540 thousand units by the end of 2015,” said Braman.
He emphasized that there are four benefits of issuing the IUMK card for UMKMK players: business license legality, ease of credit access, receiving assistance facilities, and mentorship. “The IUMK is a legal umbrella from three ministries, namely the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, and the Ministry of Trade. The public can obtain it within one hour and free of charge,” he said.
He explained that besides the three ministries, the IUMK card also collaborates with banks, in this case, BRI, and the Indonesian Guarantee Companies Association (Asippindo). “So the banking requirement to distribute Micro KUR is that it must already be online with a guarantee company because Asippindo is the one guaranteeing the Micro KUR credit distributed by banks for UMKMK,” said Braman, who also serves as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Perum Jamkrindo.
Asippindo Secretary General Diding S. Anwar mentioned that Asippindo is ready for this assignment. Asippindo, which consists of 19 guarantee companies, one of which is Perum Jamkrindo, has a guarantee capacity of more than Rp100 trillion. “Of the Rp100 trillion, Rp77 trillion is contributed by Jamkrindo,” said Diding, who also serves as President Director of Perum Jamkrindo.
At the launch of the IUMK in Gorontalo City, Diding S. Anwar handed over Perum Jamkrindo's Environmental Development assistance worth Rp50 million. The assistance was given to two mosques, two orphanages, and one early childhood education center (PAUD), each receiving Rp10 million. “This assistance is our expression of gratitude to the people of Gorontalo and as an appreciation to ensure that welfare, especially in the UMKMK sector, can continue to improve,” said Diding. (team)