Jakarta, Dec. 11 -- Housing and Settlements Minister Maruarar Sirait said Wednesday that closer cooperation between his ministry and the Ministry for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) will reinforce Indonesia's national housing supply chain.

The minister, better known as Ara, said MSMEs play a strategic role in affordable housing development, adding that the Housing Ministry is opening more space for small firms to participate in building public and subsidized homes.

"As long as MSMEs maintain good quality, we will integrate them into the Housing Ministry's programs. We want them to be a vital part of the housing ecosystem," Ara said in a statement.

He said stronger MSME competition will raise construction standards and ultim...