Entrepreneur group to help SMEs tap stock market

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta , | Tue, 03/11/2008 1:38 AM

The Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI), made up largely of owners of small and medium enterprises, has commissioned a research study on ways in which SMEs can benefit from the stock market boom.

The research will be jointly conducted with state-owned financing firm PT Bahana Pembinaan Usaha Indonesia (BPUI) and a research institution, the Center for Finance, Investment and Securities Law (CFISEL).

"The main problems for SMEs are related to capital, market access and business development. The capital market is an alternative solution to such problems," Hipmi chairman Sandiaga S. Uno told reporters in Jakarta on Monday.

He said of the 40 million SMEs in Indonesia, some 1,700 had the potential to enter the stock market as they possessed assets ranging from Rp 5 billion (US$545,000) to Rp 50 billion ($5,450,000).

Presently HIPMI has 100,000 members across 33 provinces.

President director of BPUI, Boyke Mukijat, said SMEs needed thorough business plans before entering the stock market.

"SMEs in England, Canada, Italy and many other countries have successfully expanded their businesses by going public. We believe the same can be achieved in Indonesia," he said.

BPUI, which serves as the backbone of Bahana Group, provides financial infrastructure for various kinds of businesses.

Edward T. Lubis, director of Bahana TCW Investment Management, another member of the Bahana Group that deals with investment funds, said SMEs could take advantage of current developments in the stock market.

"Foreign capital is returning to Indonesia and a shift is happening in our society's financial policy, from savings oriented to investment oriented," he said.

Boyke said BPUI wanted to make sure SMEs took this opportunity with full awareness of what to expect and how to meet expectations.

He said the research study would provide case studies of SMEs that had successfully participated in the stock market.

Sandiaga said one of the problems SMEs faced in accessing the capital market was the requirement for them to establish limited corporations before going public.

"The government should also consider devising a mechanism that will facilitate SMEs to enter the capital market," he said.

Wahyuni Bahas from CFISEL said financing facilities currently offered to SMEs, such as loans from the government or from commercial banks, were spoiling them.

"When SMEs go public, they are forced to improve their management, fulfill responsibilities to shareholders and make other positive improvements," he said. (lva)