The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) has helped local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) sign deals over Rp 1.5 trillion (US$106 million) with national and multinational corporations to boost small firms’ role in global value chains. On Monday, 196 SMEs had signed partnership deals with 27 national and 29 foreign companies that plan to invest in the country, BKPM head Bahlil Lahadalia said, adding that more such partnerships and deals were expected regularly in the future. Companies signing cooperation deals on Monday include publicly listed garment company PT Pan Brothers, which partners with 13 SMEs, and food and pharmaceutical manufacturer PT Cheil Jedang Indonesia (CJ Indonesia), controlled from South Korea, which is set to work with three SMEs. “Good economic development is development that also promotes economic equality. In the future, we want every i...