ILO, OJK and Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs continue to strengthen financial inclusion for MSMEs and workers in Indonesia...

JAKARTA, Indonesia (Press release) - The International Labour Organization (ILO) held an event titled “Celebrating Achievement, Strengthening Partnerships and Welcoming the Next Chapter” at Pullman Thamrin, Jakarta, today (13/10). The event marked the completion of the second phase and the launch of the third phase of the Promoting Micro and Small Enterprises through Entrepreneurs’ Access to Financial Services (Promise to Impact) project. The occasion reaffirmed the ILO’s continued commitment to supporting the Government of Indonesia in improving financial health and financial inclusion for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), as well as actors across regional commodity value chains.

With support from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) since March 2023, the second phase of Promise II Impact has achieved significant results. The project has facilitated a total of IDR 584.3 billion in formal financing and savings for 25,378 MSMEs; trained more than 2,300 entrepreneurs, over 40 per cent of whom are women; and strengthened the digitalization of six rural banks (Bank Perekonomian Rakyat/BPR), with the potential to positively impact more than 300,000 MSMEs.

Djauhari Sitorus, ILO Promise II Impact Project Manager, discusses lessons learned and the way forward for advancing financial inclusion and financial health in Indonesia.

“What matters most is not only how many people have gained access, but also the changes in behaviour and economic resilience they have experienced. Promise II Impact does not end with this phase. We will carry the lessons learned, achievements and partnerships we have built into the next phase,” said Djauhari Sitorus, ILO Promise II Impact Project Manager.

The Promise II Impact project combines access to finance, capacity building and the use of digital technology through a value-chain approach focused on three priority commodities: dairy, patchouli oil and seaweed.

In the dairy sector, the project has partnered with the South Bandung Dairy Farmers Cooperative (Koperasi Peternakan Bandung Selatan/KPBS) Pangalengan in West Java. Through the implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, 2,054 dairy farmers have been integrated into the system, while IDR 11.6 billion in financing has been facilitated.

For the patchouli oil value chain in Aceh, the programme has utilized the MyNilam platform to connect farmers, local governments, research centres, processors, financial institutions and markets. This collaboration has supported the export of 32 tonnes of patchouli oil worth IDR 30 billion to global markets, including France, while contributing to the growth of 15–20 local perfume brands.

Meanwhile, in the seaweed sector in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), the programme has connected 216 seaweed farmers and 57 collectors through an ERP system. Of these, 24 farmers have successfully accessed formal financing from Bank NTT, opening up opportunities to strengthen and expand their businesses.

Dicky Kartikoyono, Chief Executive of Financial Services Business Conduct, Education and Consumer Protection Supervision at the Financial Services Authority (OJK), and Member of the OJK Board of Commissioners, expressed his appreciation for the project’s tangible contribution to expanding access to finance and strengthening the capacity of MSMEs. According to him, the project’s achievements and lessons learned provide an important foundation for advancing financial inclusion that is increasingly meaningful and impactful for communities.

Dicky Kartikoyono of OJK presents Promise II Impact's achievements in Jakarta, highlighting expanded financial access, capacity building, and digital solutions for MSMEs.

“Financial inclusion is not simply about expanding access; it must deliver tangible benefits to people. The experience and lessons learned from Promise II Impact provide valuable input for OJK in strengthening policies and collaboration going forward, so that access to finance can increasingly contribute to MSME productivity, workers’ financial resilience and the well-being of communities,” said Dicky.

Ali Murtopo, Deputy for the Coordination of Trade and Digital Economy at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, also expressed hope that the project’s impact could be expanded further. He hoped that Promise II Impact could continue on a broader scale. According to him, the support models implemented in Aceh, West Java and East Nusa Tenggara could serve as examples for Regional Financial Access Acceleration Teams (Tim Percepatan Akses Keuangan Daerah/TPAKD) to replicate in other regions.

The commitment to expanding the project’s impact will continue through its third phase. Together with its stakeholders, the ILO will extend the value-chain approach to a new commodity: coffee in Lampung, while expanding interventions in the patchouli value chain in South Sumatra and the dairy value chain in East Java. The third phase will also replicate ERP systems and strengthen the digital infrastructure of BPRs across various regions of Indonesia.

Representatives of the ILO, Government of Indonesia, Swiss Embassy and tripartite partners, including APINDO and trade unions, mark the completion of Promise II Impact’s second phase and the launch of its third phase in Jakarta.

Beyond expanding its reach, the new phase will also integrate the principles of financial health as part of efforts to build economic resilience, support decent work and promote sustainable livelihoods.

“In line with the Government’s growing focus on strengthening financial health, we are committed to supporting the Government of Indonesia in advancing this agenda through the third phase of Promise II Impact,” Djauhari concluded.

As an initial step in continuing this collaboration, the ILO, together with the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and OJK, will organize the Financial Health Pathways Forum on Thursday, 15 October 2026. Held as part of Financial Inclusion Month, the forum will bring together stakeholders and members of the public to build a shared understanding of financial health and its connection to decent work. The forum is also expected to identify concrete actions to strengthen the financial resilience of workers, households, and businesses across Indonesia.

For more information, please contact:

Adelin Alexandra
ILO Communication Officer for Promise II Impact Project
[email protected]

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