Supporting Indonesia’s SMEs to benefit from RCEP

By Dr Poppy S. Winanti

Indonesia’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) dominate the Indonesian economy and generate a large chunk of the country’s employment. These enterprises have also been hardest hit by the impacts of COVID-19, and it is vital that the Indonesian government implement regulations to safeguard them during the pandemic.

The recently signed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership recognises the importance of SMEs for the economy and provides opportunities for these enterprises to maximise the benefits of the agreement. In this analysis brief, Dr Poppy S. Winanti writes that the Indonesian government should prioritise SME assistance by optimising e-commerce and enhancing their participation in global value chains in order to realise the full benefits of RCEP.