Vice President Gibran Rakabuming emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by encouraging increased access for local products to strategic spaces in shopping centers and modern retail networks.

The Vice President made this statement when receiving representatives of the Indonesian Shopping Center Retailers and Tenants Association (Hippindo) at the Vice Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (10/02/2026).

The Vice President assessed that placing local products in locations that are easily visible and accessible to consumers is a concrete step to increase the competitiveness of SMEs amidst the dominance of global products.

“We will convey this input to members, so that local brands can become hosts in their own countries and be given strategic places, both in malls and in Hippindo member retail stores,” said Hippindo Chairman, Budihardjo Iduansjah, after the meeting.

According to Budihardjo, the Vice President believes that the quality of Indonesian SME products is comparable to foreign ones. However, to accelerate their growth, concrete support is needed, including reduced rental margins and more favorable consignment schemes.

“Facing challenges related to costs and consignment, the Vice President’s directive is for the retail sector to provide support, particularly to local product suppliers, with lower margins,” he explained.

In line with strengthening local products, Budihardjo said, the Vice President also praised the “Shop in Indonesia Aja” (BINA) movement. The program, initiated by the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs in collaboration with Hippindo, APPBI, and APRINDO, is considered capable of encouraging shopping tourism as a source of national foreign exchange.

“Shopping tourism can be a backbone of the Indonesian economy. The presence of tourists will bring in foreign exchange and stimulate the retail and MSME sectors,” he said.

On that occasion, Hippindo also invited the Vice President to attend a series of BINA activities leading up to Chinese New Year, Eid al-Fitr, and the Indonesia Retail Summit which will be held next August.

“We hope the Vice President will be able to attend the commemoration of Indonesian Modern Retail Day, the Indonesia Retail Summit, and the “Shop in Indonesia Aja” series of events during Chinese New Year and Eid al-Fitr,” Budihardjo said.

This meeting was also attended by the Board of Trustees of Hippindo and Owner of Indahtex Group & Poshboy Hendra Widjaja; Secretary General of Hippindo and Operational Director of Charles & Keith, Pedro, EA7, Pomelo, Haryanto Pratantara; Chairman of the Hippindo Investment Committee and Director of JCO Donut & Coffee Charlie Ernawan; and Deputy Chairman of the CSR, MSME, and Sustainability Committee of Hippindo and Owner of Batik Riana Kusuma, Riana Kusuma.

Jakarta, February 10, 2026, 
Press, Media, and Information Bureau 
, Secretariat of the Vice President

Source: https://www.wapresri.go.id/perkuat-ukm-wapres-dorong-produk-lokal-isi-etalase-utama-pusat-perbelanjaan/