Business Matching at DPSP Labuan Bajo Successfully Reaches IDR 2.5 Billion Transactions

Labuan Bajo, September 11, 2022 – PT Pertamina (Persero), with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf), open up market potential opportunities through business matching supply chain activities for creative economy SMEs and the tourism industry in Integrated Industry and Investment (3i) in the Super Priority Tourism (DPSP) Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara. It is considered successful by achieving potential IDR 2.5 billion transactions on Friday, September 9, 2022.

This agreement continues the success of organizing similar activities at DPSP Mandalika (29/1/22) and at DPSP Borobudur (6/6/22) as part of efforts to strengthen the tourism sector supply chain that brings together the hospitality sector with MSMEs. In the previous two DPSPs, transactions amounting to IDR 2.2 billion for Mandalika and IDR 2.89 billion for Borobudur have been realized. Until now, demand continues to grow, along with new purchase orders for MSME products from several hotels.

In Labuan Bajo, around 70 MSMEs and 20 hotels participated in business matching. Unlike previous implementation, this business matching was integrated with several other activities. It includes, coaching clinic, socialization of SNI, preparation of guidelines for implementing risk-based business standards, management and submission of Business Identification Numbers, SNI CHSE, and accessibility to funding sources through People's Business Credit granted header Integrated, Industry, and Investment (3i).

Present at this event were members of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission X, Andreas Hugo Pareira, Deputy for Industry and Investment of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Hengky Manurung, President Director of the Executive Agency for the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority, Shana Fatina, Director of Industrial Management of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Anggara Hayun Anujuprana, and the SMEPP Manager of PT Pertamina (Persero), Rudi Ariffianto.

In his remarks, Henky Manurung, Deputy for Industry and Investment of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, said that although MSMEs were experiencing a slump due to the Covid-19 pandemic, by taking advantage of existing opportunities and continuing to innovate, MSMEs could rise again. Currently, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is optimizing programs for MSMEs through Integrated, Industry, and Investment (3i) activities.

"We will continue to innovate, especially for creative economy players, and provide support from various aspects so that they can recover faster and rise stronger," he said.

Meanwhile, SMEPP Manager of Pertamina, Rudi Ariffianto, conveyed the programs owned by Pertamina, which provide many benefits to the fostered partners. It includes the SME 1000 Catalog, UMK Academy, PADi (Digital Market), Pertamina SMEXPO, as well as exhibitions held at home and abroad. All of these programs aim to promote MSMEs. Thus, they can produce superior products that can be accepted by the market.

"MSMEs must be able to take advantage of a good momentum like this to offer and convey the advantages of the products produced to potential buyers. Thus, good transactions occur. We also express our gratitude and appreciation to the hotel industry players who have opened the door to opportunities for MSMEs to supply their products for consumption or resale in hotels," he said.

In a series of Business Matching activities, MSME actors previously received training in the form of public speaking, coaching, and mentoring as well as negotiation techniques, so that when dealing directly with potential buyers, they could present their products well.

According to a survey conducted by Harvard Business Review, 79% of customers say face-to-face meetings are the most effective way to sell products to new clients, and 89% agree that business deals require face-to-face meetings.

One of the Foster Partners who attended this business meeting was EXO Coffee, the product offered in the form of coffee with the types of Robusta and Juria. Bastian, the owner of EXO Coffee, was very enthusiastic about participating in this Business Matching because he could directly offer his products to potential buyers.

"I am happy that my booth got the first visit from Pertamina, plus there are already several hotels whom offer cooperation. We need to follow up for the purchase process," he said.

Vice President of CSR & SMEPP Management, Fajriyah Usman, ensures that the MSME partners in Labuan Bajo are able to present superior, creative and high-quality products. It reached IDR 2.5 billion. Reflecting from previous implementation, this commitment was followed up by both parties until it succeeded in becoming a transaction," she said.

With the end of Business Matching today, it is hoped that it will open up other collaboration opportunities. The trust given by potential buyers to local products to meet their business needs, as well as helping to campaign for the love of products made by the nation's children.

Pertamina continues to provide assistance to MSMEs through coaching and training, as well as involving fostered partners in the exhibition. "Hopefully, Business Matching activities can improve the economy of the Labuan Bajo community and accelerate the recovery of the national economy," she concluded.

This activity is part of Pertamina's ESG commitment, especially the social aspect through empowerment of micro and small businesses. In accordance with the Undang-undang Number 19 of 2003 concerning SOE, Pertamina, one of Indonesia's strategic SOE, is strongly committed to supporting the rise of micro, small and medium enterprises with the spirit of "Energizing You and Energizing Indonesia," 

Pertamina wants to become an energy that becomes fuel, energy that produces sustainable growth, and energy that can movethe economy.**

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