On Icraft 2023, Pertamina Supports MSMEs In The Digitalization Era

Umkm illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - PT Pertamina (Persero) supports the development of Indonesia's micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This is through the 2023 Interior and Craft (Icraft) exhibition, which will be held in Jakarta on April 5-9, 2023.

Pertamina's VP of Corporate Communication Fadjar Djoko Santoso in his statement in Jakarta, Sunday, said that in this event, the fostered MSMEs, namely Faiza Bordir, Haluan Bali, Batik Muria, Kraton Leather, Rumah BUMN (RB) Klungkung and RB Palangka Raya, also exhibited superior products.

"The presence of Icraft 2023 is a momentum for the revival of Indonesian crafts in the era of the digital economy, as well as an effort to expand market access," he said.

By carrying the theme "Kriya Indonesia Dalam Era Ekonomi Digital", this activity is expected to make MSMEs further develop a marketing digitization system in order to increase sales profit and market products to the international market.

According to Fadjar, MSMEs are required to innovate products and balance conventional online marketing.

"Of course, it also continues to follow the development of this digital era where online branding and marketing are crucial," he said.

The use of the concept of digital technology-based marketing is a hope for MSMEs to continue to develop, one of which is through the use of social media.

"In addition to cheap costs and not having to have special skills in carrying out initial initiatives, social media is considered capable of achieving consumers at large," he said.

Fadjar said Pertamina also has a marketplace smexpo.pertamina.com as a digital marketing platform for fostered partner products, which can be accessed in general.

Pertamina's MSME, Batik Muria admitted that appearing at ICRAFT during the Ramadan moment was an encouragement to promote Kudus' typical batik products as traditional works of art that conveyed messages of Islamic history.

"Some batik motifs tell the story of the spread of Islam by sunyans, the Kudus Tower Mosque, or Bulusan motifs, which tells the story of Sunan Muria's warning to a group of farmers who still grow crops when the Maghrib Prayer arrives," explained Dimas Andre Santoso, owner of Batik Muria.

Another Pertamina fostered MSME, Kraton Leather, exhibits self-made leather handicraft products (homemades) with designs and models according to consumer wishes (customs).

Then, Haluan Bali produces unique and fashionable digital printing fashion products and Faiza Bordir with a embroidered cloth and home decoration typical of Pasuruan.

The house of the Klungkung BUMN, which comes from the six best MSMEs from Klungkung, Bali, presents aromatherapy belonging to Bali Ayu, burlap handicraft from Uwais Craft, endek woven fabric from Astini's weaving, endek pounch from Kemala Handmade, and Lukis and Sripala MSMEs presenting various fashion products.

Also, the Palangka Raya BUMN House comes with accessories products made from natural stone from MSMEs Omah Mus and Rina Saderi Jewelry, as well as rattan crafts belonging to Indang Apang Gallery.

Fadjar added that this exhibition also supports Pertamina for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) and parts of the environmental, social, and governance (ESG).

In the future, Pertamina will be more active in encouraging the growth of the MSME business to become the pride of Indonesia.

"After participating in the exhibition, it is hoped that it can improve and develop the market of 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," he said.