23 - Fostering Small Scale Enterprises (1977)

Summary

Introductory Note: The development of small scale enterprises is an important part of the efforts to create jobs and equity in the distribution of the development process. It also has much to do with the enforcement of social justice. Much has been done in our country, as well as other countries, in the world. But the challenges are massive indeed, and certainly very difficult to overcome. Therefore everything should be considered and reviewed carefully. On the other hand, good regulations exist, but they are not widely known nor adequately exploited for the benefit of small scale enterprises. Therefore, this situation requires extensive and persistent rectification in order to effectively promote the development of small scale enterprises.

The development of small-scale enterprises is an inseparable part of establishing the equality and equity in the distribution of the benefits of the development process that can lead to social justice. Therefore, it is imperative to pay attention to the development of small-scale enterprises. The important thing is how to determine how best to do this and what steps should be taken to realize this dream.

Thus, it seems prudent to make a review of what we have done during this New Order era: What has been successful, what has been less than successful and what has failed; in order that we can decide on the necessary steps to be taken. We can also learn from past experiences prior to the New Order era. Likewise, we can learn from the experiences of other nations in developing their small-scale enterprises.

Currently the People's Consultative Assembly is drawing up the new Broad Outline of the State Guidelines. The third Five-Year Development Plan will be formulated based on those guidelines. Hopefully this symposium will provide our representatives in the People's Consultative Assembly with materials to consider for the drafting of the State Guidelines, which will then be articulated in the third Five-Year Development Plan.

A review of what we have done in the past few years will unveil various problems rooted in the regulations and the laws that seem to have hampered the development of our business world, especially the small-scale enterprises. We need to review the rules and regulations, be they laws or government decrees or decisions. We need to work based on the existing regulations.