JAKARTA (14/6) - PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) together with holding PT Perkebunan Nusantara III involve Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to participate in the MSME Expo 2023 Digital Market (PaDi) activities. This collaboration program between the Ministry of BUMN and BUMN companies will be held hybrid, namely offline at Gedung Sarinah Jakarta and online on the PaDi UMKM platform, 14-28 June 2023.

SVP of Social Responsibility (TJSL) Pupuk Indonesia, Rika Susanty, stated that PaDi UMKM is a digital ecosystem that aims to create business transactions (business matching) between BUMN companies and MSMEs. PaDi UMKM is an initiative of the Ministry of SOEs and the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs. Through this program, BUMN companies are expected to absorb products and services directly from MSMEs.

"Through this ecosystem, MSME fostered partners will be encouraged to move up in class, as well as improve their quality and competitiveness. Thus, Pupuk Indonesia will obtain the best products and services directly from MSMEs," said Rika.

PaDi UMKM Expo 2023 is the 4th batch event and is attended by 669 UMKM. They are fostered partners from the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI), the Indonesian Women Entrepreneurs Association (IWAPI), the National Crafts Council (Dekranas), Bhayangkari, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah, including the Rumah BUMN assisted by Pupuk Indonesia.

The MSME business sector involved is MSME in the business sector of office stationery, electronic goods, souvenirs and merchandise, catering and snacks, household equipment, construction materials, fashion, and various other types of services. In addition to exhibitions, there are also supporting events such as talk shows, fun runs, entertainment, BUMN band performances, including the 2022 PaDi UMKM Award.

The PaDi UMKM program within Pupuk Indonesia is carried out jointly with a number of subsidiary companies. Starting from Pupuk Kaltim, Petrokimia Gresik, Pupuk Kujang Cikampek, Pusri Palembang, Pupuk Iskandar Muda, Rekayasa Industri (Rekind).

“Because PaDi UMKM is carried out in a hybrid manner, the selected UMKM can expand their market access. Because all transactions for the procurement of BUMN goods and services are carried out online and all transactions are carried out in a cashless manner," explained Rika.

According to SOE Minister Erick Thohir's directions, he continued, Pupuk Indonesia will continue to support MSME fostered partners to Go Digital and Go Global. Because MSME is the sector that absorbs the most labor and is a support for national economic growth.

There are at least 64.2 million MSMEs in Indonesia. According to BPS, MSMEs are recorded as contributing to Indonesia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of more than 60%. Of the 64.2 million MSMEs, only around 56 thousand MSMEs have registered for the PaDi UMKM program.

Therefore, Rika hopes that the PaDi UMKM Expo 2023 program can attract other MSMEs to join this digital ecosystem. That way, MSMEs can expand and increase their sales. Meanwhile, BUMN companies can get various product and service variants from MSMEs from various regions.

"Hopefully the PaDi UMKM Expo 2023 which will be held in the near future can trigger other MSMEs to participate in registering and obtain various conveniences and benefits in the PaDi UMKM program," concluded Rika.