Encourage Job Creation, Waskita Karya Help MSMEs Upgrade Class

Photo: Doc. Waskita Karya

JAKARTA - PT Waskita Karya (Persero) Tbk again held entrepreneurial training for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the fields of fashion, food and beverages, and handicrafts. The activity, which is held at the Yogyakarta BUMN House, also commemorates the National MSME Day which falls on August 12 every year.

This training, which is part of the Company's Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) program, was attended by hundreds of local business actors. For two days, they are taught how to build trademarks or branding, as well as packaging attractive products or packaging, so that they can be marketed not only inside, but also abroad.

Waskita Karya Corporate Secretary Ermy Puspa Yunita assessed that the two capabilities must be owned by MSME actors, so that their products are increasingly eyeed by the market. It is hoped that after this training, the turnover of local entrepreneurs can increase significantly.

"Waskita Karya is always committed to participating in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Number 08 concerning Economic Growth and Decent Work. The Company seeks to help MSMEs to continue to advance in the national and global arenas, both in terms of business scale, innovation, and market reach. This is an opportunity for MSMEs to increase production capacity for exports," said Ermy in an official statement, Tuesday, August 12.

In the training, Waskita presented two experienced couplers and experts in their fields. First, the founder of PT Agradaya, namely Andhika Mahardika and second, Bagas Sabda Dewantara, who is known as a sociopreneur as well as a technology innovator.

Not only given material, the business development of the participants will also be monitored. Their sales turnover will be seen for about three to six months after the training is complete.

"This monitoring is a form of the Company's ongoing concern for the development of MSMEs. As a Construction SOE that has been established for more than 64 years, Waskita is not only focused on building infrastructure but also encouraging community empowerment, creating many new jobs, and contributing to economic equity," he said.

As is known, MSMEs are an important pillar in the national economy. The government said that the sector contributed more than 60 percent to Indonesia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and absorbed nearly 97 percent of the workforce in the country.

Previously, he continued, Waskita had also collaborated with the Surabaya BUMN House to hold MSME training in the capital city of East Java. The activity was also attended by hundreds of local business actors.

Ermy added that the Company also empowers dozens of MSMEs in the rest area of the Pejagan-Pemalang and Pemalang-Batang Toll Roads. Then had time to provide training related to financial literacy and packaging online.

"In the future, we will continue to help MSMEs so that their businesses continue to grow as well as advance to class. This step is in line with the target of increasing the national entrepreneurship ratio which will reach 3.6 percent in 2029," he explained.