Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in collaboration with the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs and the SME Center of the University of Indonesia organized a workshop on disaster resilience and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia in Jakarta in late January 2016. The workshop focused on the importance of policy and institutional frameworks that promote and enhance disaster resilience for SMEs in Indonesia.
“It is probably the first time the ministry has discussed the connection between SMEs and natural disasters with a wide range of stakeholders. To visualize the future of SMEs in the country, we need to discuss what disasters are and how SMEs can cope with them to ensure their business continuity,” said Dr. Ir. Pariaman Sinaga, the ministry’s expert staff on inter-organizational issues.
The workshop raised the awareness of participants on the importance of embedding disaster resilience into SME development programs with over 50 people in attendance.
Various units of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, the National Disaster Management Office and other line ministries including national planning and trade as well as the Chambers of Commerce, financial institutes, NGOs and GIZ were present.
“The workshop brought people from different sectors to discuss disasters and SMEs for the first time. We were able to look at SMEs in the context of disasters and recognize the significance of building their disaster resilience for enhancing overall business resilience,” remarked Ms. Christina Agustin, Deputy Assistant at the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs.
As part of its regional project to strengthen SMEs’ disaster resilience in Asia, ADPC’s iPrepare Business facility is reviewing and analyzing policies, legislation, institutional arrangements and incentive mechanisms related to SME resilience in Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
The findings from the workshop in Jakarta will be incorporated in a country report, which will include suggestions for the Indonesian government and other stakeholders.