RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia outlined three priority strategies to expand access to financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries at the BRICS Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Jaipur, India, on Friday, August 7, 2026.

Trade Minister Budi Santoso said the priorities include improving MSME financial literacy, expanding the inclusiveness of digital financing, and diversifying adaptive and flexible financing programs.

“MSMEs are one of the main pillars of developing economies, including Indonesia. However, they continue to face structural barriers, and limited access to financing remains one of the most fundamental challenges,” Minister Budi said in an official statement received in Jakarta on Saturday, August 8, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He emphasized that a rules‑based trading system is essential for strengthening MSME growth and competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.

To support MSMEs, Indonesia is also encouraging the development of a more resilient global value chain to reinforce domestic economic capacity.

Indonesia proposed four measures to improve the quality of global value chains: strengthening connectivity, improving trade facilitation, enhancing domestic capacity, and establishing conducive trade and investment policies.

Connectivity, he said, must be strengthened through efficient transportation, logistics, and digital infrastructure to better link businesses with regional and global markets.

Trade facilitation involves simplifying procedures to make trade processes faster and more predictable, reducing costs and enabling businesses to participate more effectively in global production networks.

Indonesia is also pushing to strengthen domestic capacity through investments in skills development, innovation, and the business sector. This will enable companies and workers to produce higher‑value products and services.

Conducive trade and investment policies are needed to expand trade agreements and market access. These efforts are expected to deepen the integration of developing countries into regional and global production networks and attract foreign investment.

“Indonesia believes that progress in these four areas will help developing countries build global value chains that are resilient, inclusive, and development‑oriented,” Minister Budi said.

Beyond MSME financing and global value chain development, Indonesia also highlighted the growing role of technology in international trade.

Minister Budi noted that artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing are increasingly important sources of value creation and innovation in global production networks.

In this context, Indonesia views BRICS cooperation in promoting interoperability and mutual recognition arrangements as crucial for building trust and increasing business participation across markets. However, he stressed that such cooperation must remain aligned with each country’s national laws and regulatory frameworks. ***