Pandemic Effects, MSMEs and Bandung City's Digital Sales Grow Rapidly

Since the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and digital sales in the city of Bandung have experienced a rapid increase. This increase also has a positive impact on the pace of economic growth in the city of Bandung from 2020 to the end of 2021 yesterday.

This was explained by the Head of the Department of Trade and Industry (Disdagin) of Bandung City, Elly Wasliah. He said the economic growth rate of Bandung City is currently moving at 3.5 percent.

"The reason is because of the increase in online product purchases," he explained in the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Survey of Consumer Needs for the Security and Convenience of the e-commerce System, Friday, February 25, 2022.

The increase in MSMEs and online trade transactions has experienced a rapid increase. By 2022, the growth of MSMEs in the city of Bandung will increase to 180,000 new businesses. Meanwhile, online trading transaction activities increased by 150 percent.

The three products with the highest sales figures in e-commerce include: fashion, food and beverage, and health products.

"This factor is driven by the high purchasing power and the shift of people to buy without face to face," said Elly.

So far, there have been several efforts made by the Disdagin of Bandung City in increasing and facilitating the growth of MSMEs in Bandung City.

The first is by holding online training. In 2021, the Disdagin of Bandung City will provide training to 600 MSME actors in Bandung City.

"The plan is that this year there will be online training for 500 MSME players," said Elly.

The second is the 2021 Bandung Creative Market which will be held in 9 shopping centers in the city of Bandung. This event generated a turnover of up to 4.29 billion.

In 2022, the Bandung City Government through Disdagin will hold the Bandung Creative Market in 6 shopping centers.

Then there is the Bandung Week Market. This event makes export products as orientation for sale. This event was held in Bali.

Fourth, there is the Bandung Hijab Fest 2021 which will be held in two editions in April and October 2022. In the first edition, this event received a turnover of up to 2.1 billion. This number will increase to 2.6 billion in the second edition held in October 2022.

"Reflecting on the turnover, this e-commerce activity is very helpful for SMEs in selling their products," said Elly.

Furthermore, Bandung City Government through Disdagin has facilitated Halal Product Certification and also Quality Test. So far, this facility has been enjoyed by 100 MSMEs for halal certification, and 79 MSMEs for quality testing.

Lastly, Disdagin also held Technical Guidance (Bimtek) for Digitalization of Marketing. Last year, 600 MSMEs participated in this Bimtek by cooperating with 3 digital stores (marketplaces).

For information, the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Survey of Consumer Needs for the Security and Convenience of the e-commerce System was also attended by Megawati Simanjuntak as Chair of Commission I for Research and Development at the Indonesian Consumer Protection Agency, City Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (KUKM) Office. Bandung, representatives of merchants from Blibli, Shopee and Tokopedia, as well as representatives of merchants or MSME actors in the city of Bandung who carry out online buying and selling activities.

Head of Discominfo Bandung

Yayan A. Brilyana