LABUAN BAJO – PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) also introduced Indonesian fabrics to delegates from participating countries at the 2023 ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo. The Clothes of Nusantara displayed is a product of Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME/UMKM) fostered by Subsidiaries, namely PT Petrokimia Gresik, PT Pusri Palembang, and PT Pupuk Kaltim.

SVP TJSL Pupuk Indonesia Rika Susanty said that there were eight Side Main Events (SMEs) assisted by the Pupuk Indonesia Group featuring Indonesian fabrics and several products with batik motifs. All of these products took part in the House of SOE (Rumah BUMN) SME's HUB 2023 event in Labuan Bajo.

"Pupuk Indonesia welcomes the Rumah BUMN SME's HUB 2023 event which is still part of the ASEAN Summit activities. Through Rumah BUMN SME's HUB, Pupuk Indonesia can introduce Indonesian fabrics, which currently have the status of Indonesian heritage (wastra)," said Rika Susanty.

The eight SMEs assisted by Pupuk Indonesia Group are Lembayung Ethnic which sells typical Palembang batik fashion products, Batik Kuntul Perak which sells typical Kalimantan hand-written batik cloth, Optimistie Gems (OG) Jewelry which sells jewelry accessories, Batik Gedog Zaenal which sells Sekar's typical batik cloth. Jagat, Patch Diamonds, Rembulan, and Sogo Pipit. Patera sells goods such as bags, Sewet Jumputan sells Palembang batik shirts, Zulpah Batik Madura sells Madurese handmade batik and Beras Basah Batik sells Kalimantan silk written batik.

Pupuk Indonesia appreciates BUMN Minister Erick Thohir who has provided the opportunity for MSMEs assisted by the Pupuk Indonesia Group to take part in the Rumah BUMN SME's HUB 2023 event in Labuan Bajo. According to Rika, the archipelago fabrics and other products exhibited by Pupuk Indonesia have gone through a very strict curation process from the SOE Ministry team.

"Therefore, we appreciate State-Owned Enterprise Minister Erick Thohir who has given the opportunity for MSME products assisted by the Pupuk Indonesia Group to appear at SME's HUB. That way, the archipelago's cloth products and other products can be seen directly by the delegates from the countries participating in the 2023 ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo," said Rika.

During his working visit, the number one person in the Ministry of SOEs took the time to visit the Pupuk Indonesia Group exhibition booth. He also received an explanation about Indonesian fabrics and several other products of UMKM assisted by Pupuk Indonesia.

Erick revealed that Rumah BUMN SME's Hub aims to promote and help MSMEs to increase their competitiveness as well as open access to global markets so that they can encourage Indonesian MSMEs to go global.

"We have to encourage these MSMEs to go global, one of which is with exhibitions that involve visitors from abroad. We need to realize that MSMEs are the backbone of the Indonesian economy which opens up many job opportunities. They can make the nation proud with world-class products," said Erick.

SME's HUB is an effort by Rumah BUMN to introduce Indonesian MSMEs to the international world. This activity is a Side Event of the 2023 ASEAN Summit which will be held from 9 to 13 May 2023 at the Marina Waterfront Labuan Bajo. In this event there were 50 MSME actors involved, 10 of them were local UMKM and the rest were UMKM assisted by Rumah BUMN and other ministries.