Jakarta, Sept. 9 -- Local micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) products now make up over 60 percent of goods stocked across modern retail networks nationwide-exceeding initial government expectations-according to Trade Minister Budi Santoso.

Speaking in Jakarta on Wednesday, Budi said the strong penetration demonstrates that market access for small business operators is becoming increasingly open through collaborative partnerships with modern retailers.

"According to data from modern retail operators, more than 60 percent of the items stocked in modern retail are MSME and local products," he said.

Budi noted that MSME products are increasingly being featured in major shopping centers, department stores, and modern retail chains a...