Bandung. Minister for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Maman Abdurrahman has called for Indonesia’s public facilities to serve as inclusive business spaces for small enterprises across the country.

“The government is here to open as much space as possible so that MSMEs can operate, grow economically, and create jobs,” Maman said on Wednesday during a visit to Laswi Heritage Bandung with Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar and PT KAI President Director Bobby Rasyidin. The location is being developed as one of the MSME centers under the pilot program “Pasar 1.001 Malam.”

Maman noted that Government Regulation No. 7 of 2021 mandates that at least 30 percent of public spaces be allocated for MSMEs at rental rates below market value. However, implementation remains far from optimal.

According to data from the MSME Ministry, of 971,206 square meters of total commercial area nationwide, 389,230 square meters should be dedicated to MSME operations. As of now, only 6,400 MSMEs occupy 392 public infrastructure units.

To accelerate progress, the ministry is fully supporting the Pasar 1.001 Malam initiative, led by the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment, which aims to reduce poverty by utilizing idle government and state-owned enterprise (SOE) assets located in strategic areas. The program opens up new business spaces for MSMEs, women, and creative workers.

“The Ministry of MSMEs is ready to coordinate with the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment to curate and mentor MSME entrepreneurs, ensuring product quality and access to financing,” Maman said.

He added that cross-institutional collaboration is key to ensuring public facility policies truly benefit MSMEs.

“Our joint efforts with the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment, SOEs, and local governments aim to create fair access for MSMEs. As the backbone of our economy, MSMEs deserve equal treatment and facilities,” he added.

During the visit, Maman and Bandung Deputy Mayor Erwin also toured The Hallway Space at Pasar Kosambi, a marketplace promoting MSME products and creative ventures led by Bandung’s youth. Maman praised the initiative for fostering both protection and growth of local potential.

“MSMEs must be protected and nurtured to thrive in their own country. I also appreciate young people who are managing public spaces and driving the economy through creativity,” he said.

Maman expressed hope that more public infrastructure across Indonesia will be optimized for MSMEs, creative workers, and the younger generation. Proper mentoring, he said, will ensure that public spaces become fair and productive engines of local economic growth.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister Muhaimin Iskandar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering MSMEs, which contribute significantly to GDP and national employment.

That commitment, he said, includes converting idle government and SOE assets into productive business areas. “When MSMEs grow, informal workers can transition into the formal sector -- that’s what we call the process of graduation and empowerment,” Muhaimin said.

He added that President Prabowo Subianto is preparing an official directive to optimize public facilities and idle assets for MSME development. “We will continue to move forward for MSMEs,” he said.