Developing MSMEs, Pertamina Projects 1 Million People to Get Direct Economic Benefits
Jakarta, September 22, 2020 - MSMEs are the backbone of the national economy because they have succeeded in absorbing 90% of the local workforce and contributing more than 60% of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Until now, Pertamina projects that around 1 million people will have direct economic benefits from the MSMEs development program that Pertamina has carried out.
"The MSMEs sector is crucial to be nurtured and assisted continuously. Therefore, it can support national economic growth," said Fajriyah Usman, Vice President of Corporate Communication of PT Pertamina (Persero), at the SOEs Energy Amidst Pandemic event, Empowering MSMEs online, Saturday (19/9).
According to Fajriyah, Pertamina as a state-owned enterprise in the energy sector provides assistance to MSMEs following UU 19 Tahun 2003 on SOEs, which is to actively participate in assisting weak entrepreneurs, cooperatives, and the community.
During a pandemic like this, the ability to use technology to go online or e-commerce is a demand. Therefore, Pertamina is here to provide training so that MSMEs can increase their knowledge and adapt to the development of this technology and expand market access.
One form of expanding market access that has just been held by Pertamina is the Pertamina SMEXPO 2020 Exhibition on 9-11 September 2020. It markets 1700 product choices from 100 Pertamina Foster Partners from all over Indonesia.
Apart from the exhibition, there are MSMEs coaching, business forums, entertainment, and other events that can be accessed free of charge by visitors. This exhibition also won the MURI Record as a Virtual Exhibition with the Most Product Selection in Indonesia.
"Pertamina not only provides a marketplace during the event but also gives them the opportunity to business matching with foreign businessmen in the business forum," explained Fajriyah.
Pertamina SMEXPO 2020 recorded a total number of visitors of nearly 33 thousand from 38 countries and the achievement of potential buyers' transactions reaching IDR 9.3 billion. The process is still being carried out until now.
During the pandemic, Pertamina also absorbed products from fostered MSMEs to be distributed to the public and parties related to Covid-19 with a sales value of nearly IDR 12 billion. There are more than 10,000 products distributed from 176 MSMEs assisted by Pertamina.
Pertamina, said Fajriyah, has given out funds worth IDR 3.5 trillion to foster and advance more than 63,000 MSMEs throughout Indonesia. This step was taken as part of Pertamina's environmental, social responsibility, which has been in place since 1993.
Pertamina also has the responsibility to realize priority Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one of which is the SDGs for job creation which will have a significant impact on poverty alleviation efforts. Therefore, Pertamina formed a Partnership Program, which is a form of empowering MSMEs to achieve these goals.**