Leonard Theosabrata The Story Of Leading Smesco Indonesia Once Deficit Of Up To IDR 13 Billion

President Director of Smesco Indonesia Leonard Theosabrata (left). Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI

JAKARTA - President Director of Smesco Indonesia Leonard Theosabrata told that the institution he leads had experienced a gloomy period, namely a deficit of up to IDR 13 billion.

Leo said, even the official institution under the auspices of the Kemenkop UKM had experienced a deficit for two consecutive years, namely in 2018 and 2019.

"When I first entered, Smesco's position was a deficit. This means that the income is minus. I entered 2020. So, meaning that in 2018, 2019, that was a deficit of Rp. 9 billion," Leo said at a press conference at the Kemenkop UKM office, Jakarta, Thursday, January 25.

He said the official institution under the Kemenkop UKM had decreased its income during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At that time, Smesco experienced the largest deficit in the history of the established business entity, reaching Rp13 billion.

According to Leo, this gloomy period has burdened him with morals. He did not want to be seen as a private person who entered the government sector but failed.

Therefore, he focused on getting out of that gloomy period.

"So, I feel out of the deficit number one. After a few years, in all programs we ask to use other people's money. So, we just put the name Smesco and that (made) we managed to get out. Then, starting at the end of 2023 it was positive," he said.

Lebuh lanjut, Leo mengatakan, salah satu program yang cukup berjalankannya adalah hanyaats.

These are the first cloud kitchens in Indonesia that have a one line retort kitchen facility that can extend the life of up to 12 months of storage at room temperature.

Thus, MSME products can be included in distribution to modern markets and reach is wider.

Leo also plans to increase the size of the kitchen because it is currently fully occupied.

Even so, this occupancy does not come from MSME actors, but from other, larger businesses.

Leo claimed that only about 50 MSME players participated in this program.

The low number is because MSME actors are not used to cooking directly on the spot.

"The name planning is not necessarily a reality, the kitchen together is less effective not because of the rental fee, but rather the habit (habit) of MSMEs. He wants to cook it, yes, in his own place or open PO to him, give his recipe. Well, that's what happens a lot," he added.