REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The cooperation between the government and businesses will encourage the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), according to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani.

"The cooperation will contribute to economic growth. We must encourage cooperation among state leaders, policymakers, and the entrepreneurs from the MSME sector. We hope the current decentralization will support the MSMEs and boost economic growth," Sri Mulyani stated in her speech at the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) here on Tuesday.

MSMEs are the backbone of the national economy. MSMEs constitute some 99 percent of the businesses in Indonesia, with more than 98 percent dominated by microenterprises. The MSMEs employ more than 107.6 million people in Indonesia and contribute 60.6 percent to Indonesia's gross domestic product.

With the development of MSMEs, more people could contribute to economic growth, which will help to strengthen the domestic economy.