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Govt pushes foreign MSME owners in Bali to scale up
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A rice farmer rides a motorcycle past the paddy fields in Kerobokan district, Bali, on Dec. 30, 2023. (AFP/David Gannon)
I
mmigration authorities in Bali plan to conduct an in-depth evaluation of local business operations after receiving complaints about a growing number of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) on the island being controlled by foreign nationals.
The measure was aimed at evaluating the performance of businesses run by foreign nationals and encouraging them to increase their investments to Rp 10 billion (US$638,162), in line with prevailing regulations, Immigration Director General Silmy Karim told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
“At least, there will be no more new cases, and the current foreign business owners are encouraged [to adhere to the regulation],” he reiterated.
Local business owners, supported by community leaders and politicians, have called for the central and provincial governments to ensure prevailing laws are strictly enforced.
“The hope is that the government can monitor small businesses in the Canggu area and other areas, [and that] business permits will also be tightened and checked regularly, so as not to kill the businesses of local residents,” said Yoga Antara, a rental business owner in Bali, as quoted by The Bali Sun in June.
A preliminary investigation carried out by the immigration office in response to the complaints confirmed foreign control of many MSMEs in the province.
“When my team conducted the operation, it found that [foreign nationals] have been issued business identification numbers [NIB]; [for example] they have a permit to open a salon,” Silmy was quoted by CNN Indonesia as saying on Tuesday during his opening remarks at an inauguration event held at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
