Welcoming Pertamina Mandalika Circuit Racing Event, Local MSMEs are Ready to Go Global

Lombok, November 11, 2021 – The international motorcycle racing at Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara has a positive impact on the surrounding community. It has increased Indonesia's reputation and given new hope to local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which had fallen for more than 1.5 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This new hope lifted the owner of Lombok Mulya Craft, Mulyadi's spirit. He has been producing various Lombok handicrafts, such as pearls, weaving, songket, pottery/terracotta, woven bamboo, woven rattan, woven ketak, wood, and cukli.

"Over the last 1.5 years, it has been hard for us. The production of local artisans has stopped because of the pandemic," said Mulyadi.

But the 40-year-old man is grateful that the big international motorcycle racing event held in Lombok has earned him an order for souvenirs for Pertamina's booth at the event. "Thank God, this is a moment of our awakening to return to producing Lombok's unique handicrafts," said Mul.

He also admitted that he was proud that an international scale event would be held in his homeland. "It proves that Lombok is also superior like other cities in Indonesia," he said.

Uncle Mul said that Pertamina ordered 500 souvenirs, consisting of 200 VIP souvenirs and 300 souvenirs. For VIP souvenirs, he prepared a scarf from Lombok's woven fabric, pearl brooch, pearl bracelet, and Lombok's woven fan. The other 200 packages consist of a scarf from Lombok's woven fabric, pearl bracelets, and a Lombok woven fan.

"We deliberately chose this souvenir so that visitors from various parts of the world who come to Pertamina's booth in the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit area can immediately use it. The scarf is made manually by Lombok weavers, as well as for fans. While brooches and bracelets are made from native pearls typical of Lombok," he explained.

From the trust given to him by Pertamina, he pocketed a turnover of about ten times more than the monthly turnover obtained by Lombok Mulya Craft during the pandemic.

"Hopefully, this will be a good start for us. Since becoming a foster partner in 2018, Pertamina has never stopped guiding us to develop," said Uncle Mul, who founded Lombok Mulya Craft in 2010, assisted by six pottery craftsmen. Along with the development of tourism in Lombok, he developed this craft business sector into all types of handicrafts in Lombok.

Acting Vice President of Corporate Communication of Pertamina, Fajriyah Usman, revealed MSMEs' involvement in the international motorcycle racing event at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit is proof of Pertamina's support in SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) achievement. Especially in point 8 related to the provision of employment and economic growth. It also implements ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) based programs in all Pertamina's operational areas.

"The Pertamina Mandalika Street Circuit and international motorsports events are expected to provide a multiplier effect for the Indonesian economy as part of the National Economic Recovery. It is not only an opportunity for broad global market penetration for companies and other SOE products but also Pertamina's fostered MSME products," she concluded.**