Encouraging Indonesian Economy's Revival, Pertamina's Leading MSMEs Present at ICRAFT 2023

Jakarta, April 8, 2023 - PT Pertamina (Persero) continues to support the Indonesian economy's revival by taking part in the 2023 Interior and Craft Exhibition (ICRAFT) at Cendrawasih Room Number 139 - 143 JCC on 5 - 9 April 2023.

ICRAFT 2023 is a momentum for Indonesian crafts' revival in the digital economy era and an effort to expand market access.

At this event, Pertamina-fostered MSMEs are ready to showcase their superior products, starting from Faiza Embroidery, Haluan Bali, Batik Muria, Kraton Leather, Klungkung Rumah BUMN (RB), and Palangkaraya Rumah BUMN (RB).

Carrying the theme "Indonesian Crafts in the Digital Economy Era", this activity is expected to encourage MSME players to develop a marketing digitalization system to increase sales profits and market products to international markets, which are expected to increase export numbers.

The VP of Corporate Communication of PT Pertamina (Persero), Fadjar Djoko Santoso, said that MSMEs are required to innovate products, balance conventional marketing with online marketing, and continue to follow developments in this digital era where online branding and marketing are very crucial.

Digital technology-based marketing concepts are a hope for MSMEs to develop, one of which is through social media utilization. "Besides the low cost and no special expertise needed in carrying out the initial initiation, social media is directly considered capable to reach broad consumers," said Fadjar.

Fadjar added that Pertamina also has a smexpo.pertamina.com marketplace, a digital marketing forum for its fostered partner products that can be accessed publicly. Even during Ramadan, to increase sales, the smexpo.pertamina.com marketplace also provides various promotions, from free shipping, discounts, flash sales, and price discount vouchers.

One of the SMEs fostered by Pertamina, Batik Muria, said that the opportunity to attend the ICRAFT, which concurred with Ramadan was an encouragement to promote Kudus handmade batik product, a traditional work of art that also conveys messages from Islamic history.

"Some of our featured batik motifs, namely storytelling batik, such as the story of the spread of Islam by the Sunans, the Menara Kudus Mosque, the Bulusan motif which tells of Sunan Muria's rebuke to a group of farmers who were still cultivating crops when the time for evening prayers arrived," explained Dimas Andre Santoso, owner Muria Batik.

Apart from batik, visitors can also visit various other Pertamina-fostered MSME products, such as Kraton Leather which showcases homemade leather products, where consumers can design products with the model they want (custom). Haluan Bali, an MSME from Badung, produces unique and fashionable digital printing fashion products, and Faiza Embroidery with embroidered cloth superior products and typical Pasuruan home decor.

On this occasion, MSMEs from Bali were represented by Rumah BUMN Klungkung, where products from the six best SMEs from Klungkung also showed off by presenting various products, including aromatherapy from Bali Ayu, jute crafts from Uwais Craft, endek woven fabrics from Astini weaving, endek pouch from Kemala Handmade, as well as Fan Painting and Sripala MSMEs which present various fashion products.

Moreover, Rumah BUMN Palangkaraya comes with accessory products made from natural stone from Omah Mus and Rina Saderi Jewelry MSMEs, as well as rattan handicrafts from Indang Apang Galeri. 

Fadjar emphasized that exhibition activities like this are a form of Pertamina's support for sustainable development (SDGs) which is also part of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). In the future, Pertamina will be more active in encouraging MSME business growth. Therefore, it will become the pride of all Indonesian people. 

"After participating in the exhibition, it is hoped to increase and develop the market for products made by the nation's children, especially crafts which are MSME products which are classified as having very positive business potential, both at home and abroad," stated Fadjar.**