The Financial Services Authority (OJK) in collaboration with the Digital Business Study Program, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), UNS Fintech Center, and the Surakarta City Government hosted a Seminar entitled Securities CrowdFunding (SCF) as an Alternative Funding for MSMEs, Monday, November 6, 2023, at the 3rd Floor Ballroom of Ki Hadjar Dewantara Building, UNS Tower.

SCF is a form of alternative financing scheme for raising funds through the capital market. This scheme is considered an alternative means for businesses or someone to obtain funding from the capital market.

Three experts were invited as seminar speakers, James Riyadi, CrowdDana Co-Founder, Ernawan Salimsyah, CFA, CIO, from Mandiri Investment Management, and Putra Pamungkas, Ph.D., Head of UNS Fintech Center and Head of Digital Business Study Program. More than 60 participants consisting of MSME entrepreneurs and also academics, filled the seminar room.

Prof. Wimboh Santosa, Professor of FEB UNS who previously served as Chairman of the OJK Board of Commissioners for the period 2017-2022 in his remarks said this occasion was an effort to provide encouragement for MSMEs to enter the capital market.

According to him MSMEs usually get loans from banks, but not all MSMEs can get bank loans. OJK tries to provide capital market financing solutions that have been specifically provided through SCF and require no collateral. “Today we are bringing in experts to disseminate on what SCF is, and how to do it, even after this we will open a clinic, and those who are interested will get assistance on how to enter the capital market and how to develop their business,” he said.

This initial agenda held in Solo will be an example and can be developed in other regions. In his written remarks, the Mayor of Surakarta, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, read by the Deputy Mayor of Surakarta, Teguh Prakosa, fully supports SCF and will issue a letter of support as a guarantee that the contract is valid and will be paid if the work is carried out in accordance with applicable regulations.

Furthermore, he emphasized that the most important aspect that needs to be underlined is considering the issuance of a guarantee letter. After issuing guarantee letter MSMEs must be able to take full responsibility for the projects they work on, lest there be delays or results that are not in accordance with the agreement or contract.

Meanwhile, the Rector of UNS, Prof. Dr. Jamal Wiwoho, S.H., M.Hum., in his speech said that the problem of funding for MSMEs will be a problem that continues to get the attention of all of us. Usually, MSMEs receive their funding from banks, SCF is an alternative funding for MSMEs.

Furthermore, in the economic system in Indonesia, MSMEs play an important role in life, especially as a source of income in the community. We continue to increase thousands and even millions of MSMEs, to make MSMEs more empowered, one of which we do is provide funding for MSMEs. “The financing provided seems to be the only rational choice for MSMEs so that their business can maintain its operations, besides providing an understanding of information technology and innovations from MSMEs themselves,” he explained later.

The Rector of UNS also appreciated the seminar initiated by OJK, especially Prof. Wimboh Santosa who had discussed the plan for the current agenda some time ago. The Rector hopes that later there will be a brilliant idea resulting from these events, thus, promoting MSMEs empowerment. The Rector hopes that later there will be a brilliant idea resulted from this type of events, thus, promoting MSMEs empowerment.