Welcoming The Mandalika MotoGP, NTB SMEs Prepare Online Shopping Storefronts

JAKARTA – The MotoGP Mandalika 2022, March will be the right momentum for micro, small and medium enterprises in West Nusa Tenggara to bounce back. They are expected to derive economic benefits from these activities.

This hope emerged from the Head of the NTB Communications and Information Service, Najamuddin Amy at the Digitalk Forum event with the theme “NTB SMEs Ready to Welcome MotoGP 2022” on Tuesday, 22 February 2022. This event was initiated by the Directorate of Information and Communication for the Economy and Maritime Affairs, the Directorate General of Information and Public Communication.

“The NTB Communications and Informatics Service is trying not only to emphasize regulations, but also to carry out real business activities with digitalization, by providing a business model that is still being sold today, namely NTBMall.com. This is an online buying and selling site (e-commerce) that sells original MSME products superior to West Nusa Tenggara," said Najamuddin Amy.

This e-commerce site is expected to be one of the storefronts capable of selling MSME products from NTB for tourists or visitors at the Mandalika MotoGP.

"As of October 2021, NTBMall's online and offline turnover reached 2.7 billion, until November 2021 it had involved 2,853 MSMEs in NTB with more than 4,250 products spread from 10 districts/cities," Najamuddin, in a release received by VOI.

On the same occasion, Ladara, an Indonesian online shopping store, also wants to increase its sales. Ladara's founder and CEO, Nanny Hadi Tjahjanto, appealed to the public to choose local products made by the nation over foreign products.

By choosing domestic products, you can directly support and encourage the development of MSME business players and also support the Proudly Made Indonesia movement in real terms

"We will make Ladara a center for various handicrafts as well as regional specialty products throughout Indonesia that can be purchased online so that it will make it easier for people to get products that were previously only available in the regions, later they can be obtained only in hand," said Nanny.

Meanwhile, the Founder & CEO of Tenun Gaya, Wignyo Rahadi, said that woven fabric is a superior product from NTB. For this reason, Wignyo invites MSMEs to pay more attention to quality control and finishing of their products so that they have quality standards, and without good quality control, this will not happen.

At the time of the MotoGP event, all eyes in the world will look at Mandalika, this is our opportunity to promote, of course, what is expected is that we can maintain the quality of our products to gain the trust of the public or foreign tourists.

"So friends, who have not carried out quality control or finishing, please do it as soon as possible, in the short term we must be able to offer the best products in MotoGP events," Wignyo said.

After being nurtured and appointed by the product, the obstacle that is often encountered by craftsmen and MSMEs is how to sell the product. One solution that can be done is to take advantage of existing facilities, such as online malls or online shopping centers.

"Let's work together to build the country by utilizing the facilities provided by the central and local governments," said Sativa Sutan Anwar, builder & craftsman of Indonesian traditional fabrics.

In line with this, Indah Purwanti Ningsih, Founder of the Lombok Womenpreneur Club, also said to always be able to read changes in consumer behavior. "Be creative and adaptive MSMEs so they can innovate and be creative so they can create products that meet the needs of today's consumers," said Indah.

The Digitalk Forum event was held on a hybrid basis, attended by 30 MSME actors in West Nusa Tenggara offline, and online through the Zoom application and 400 people streaming YouTube from the Directorate General of IKP Kominfo.