COOPERATIVES MINISTER TO FOCUS ON SMALL HOLDER CREDIT

Makassar, Nov 21 (ANTARA) - Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Sjarifuddin Hasan said he would focus on the distribution of small holder credits (KUR) to increase fund absorption next year.

"We will do our best to accelerate the distribution of Rp10 trillion KUR credits to small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) next year," the minister said here ever the weekend.

He said that the main problems that had to be solved in the distribution of KUR credits included lack of socialization, high interest rates and tight requirements imposed by banks.

"We will eliminate the problems so that the distribution of the funds would not be hampered," the minister said.

Therefore, the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small Scale Enterprises will in the near future establish coordination with executing banks and involve private banks in the distribution of the credits.

"We have also discussed the matter with Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank) to minimize the requirements that have increased the burden of business players," he said.