Canada Offers US$12 Million Cooperation For SME Development

Jakarta, Jan 19 (Antara) - Canada has offered cooperation worth US$12 million for a period of five years to develop Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia. "The Conference Board of Canada that visited the Indonesian SME and Cooperative Ministry has offered a mentoring and training project worth US$12 million for five years for the people working in SME businesses," Deputy of the Financing Sector of the Ministry Choirul Djamhari noted here on Sunday. According to Choirul, the cooperation will encompass mentoring and training for people working in SMEs as well as extending export market information to help develop confidence among the producers to expand their market. The deputy said some producers believed that they can expand their market including those producing coffee bean, cocoa, handicrafts, and garments. "Besides Canada, the people working in SMEs will pursue product exports to several countries in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Middle East, and North Africa," Choirul stated. The total Indonesian exports to Canada in 2013 reached Rp14.4 trillion and from Canada to Indonesia were recorded at Rp20.1 trillion. The deputy noted that strategic partnership needs to be developed as Canada is considered to be a potential market. Choirul stated that the ministry is reviewing several financing sources, including banks and non-banking institutions for the development of SMEs that can increase the total exports of four main commodities to Canada.