Cool! These MSMEs Turn Waste Into Export Products To Four Countries

The founder of PT Anakayu Bangun Nusantara, Irfan Adi Siswanto, introduced the Uleen MSME product at the National Movement for Proud Made in Indonesia (Gernas BBI) South Kalimantan/Photo: Antara

BANJARMASIN - The Earth of Borneo, which is so rich in natural resources, really provides anything that humans need with a willingness to put in the effort. Not only coal is very abundant in Borneo, but also other natural resources derived from plants and animals that can be utilized and have high value. One of the natural resources of the earth of Borneo that is used by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is the Ulin tree stump which is still widely spread in the forest. wood industry waste treatment. The focus of the MSME business managed by Irfan is the utilization of a variety of wood that is no longer used, or can be called waste, to be reprocessed into products that have high selling value and have competitiveness. The wood waste is taken for free. The waste that most people consider as worthless goods is transformed into a variety of interesting and productive products. Wood waste includes used wooden pallets that are no longer used by large companies or industries to the weft of ironwood trees that have been cut down which are still left in the forests of Kalimantan. The products made by Irfan are divided into two, namely furniture and furniture for interior and exterior made to order, as well as handicraft products in the form of kitchen utensils, fashion, and decorations. Uleen is a trademark made by Irfan to introduce handicraft products which are mostly made from Ironwood. Who does not know Ulin wood? This tree, which is known as iron wood, is very famous for its strength and durability. In contrast to most wood that rots and rots when submerged in water, ironwood is actually stronger when exposed to water. The ironwood tree itself is a typical Kalimantan plant that only grows on the island of Borneo, both in the forests of all provinces in Kalimantan as well as in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia. which is still one island. The robustness of the wood, which is known as Iron Wood in foreign countries, is increasingly valuable because of its rarity and status as an endangered plant. Ironwood tree growth is also very slow. From the age of zero to 100 years, this tree can only grow to a diameter of 50 cm. It is at the age of 100 that the ironwood tree can be cut down for its wood. Compare this with teak trees, which can be used for wood at the age of 35 years. The remnants of felled ironwood trees that have been planted since the colonial era are still scattered in the forests of Kalimantan. The tubers and roots of the ironwood tree can be taken free of charge, but with a lot of effort. Irfan is one of those people who is willing to go to great lengths to lift the tubers and roots of the ironwood tree to be used as items of high selling value. The removal process can take two days, done manually using a hoe and a crowbar," Irfan said in quoted Antara Sunday, July 24. Now, he has empowered the surrounding community to be employed to lift ironwood wefts, from digging to transporting the tree roots. that tree Irfan and his team make various kinds of ironwood-based wooden crafts such as spoons, forks, cake knives, vases, ashtrays, bowls, plates, glasses, displays in the form of trucks and barges, cutting boards, and watches. Exports Irfan's journey to develop waste wood products it's not big just like that. The business he started in 2017 started from the production of custom home furniture to order, until finally developing the business into the production of handicrafts for kitchen utensils and accessories. This product made from rare wood with the Uleen trademark was eyed by PT BNI Tbk to be invited to an exhibition in South Korea on 2019. Beyond expectations, in fact Uleen products have received good interest from the people of South Korea. Irfan said, the high interest of the international community for Uleen products is because the raw material for ironwood itself is well known and has a high reputation in foreign countries. "When I exhibited In Seoul, I sell one cutting board for 30 thousand won, that's equivalent to Rp. 450 thousand. Here it is Rp. 150 thousand. I brought the 70 cutting boards in three days," said Irfan. After that, Irfan continued to expand his market by exporting to several other Asian countries such as Japan and Singapore. The export volume of Uleen's products has not yet reached one container. Therefore, Irfan racked his brain by entrusting exports together with Jepara furniture products, which already had an international market. The most recent export destination country to market Uleen's products is England. From the export of ironwood products, Uleen can achieve a turnover of Rp. 130 million to Rp. 150 million per month. Uleen's turnover grew from only Rp. 20 million a month in 2019 with two employees to Rp. 150 million a month after export by employing 25 employees. Uleen's product market is indeed more in demand abroad than the local market. Uleen's export sales contribute 70 percent with the remaining 30 percent for the domestic market. Uleen's journey to the international market cannot be separated from the MSME coaching and training program organized by the government in order to increase the capacity and business scale of local MSMEs. Uleen has long been a partner of MSMEs assisted by Bank Indonesia by being given various benefits ranging from training, production equipment assistance, to access to financing. "Wow, there are many benefits. We brought in digital marketing experts, they were taught, if we have already exported, we look for a market. My agreement with the Singaporean buyer, BI is the bridge. We Also referred by BI to state-owned and private banks to be able to access financing," said Irfan. Uleen also participated in the National Proud of Indonesia Movement (Gernas BBI) South Kalimantan which was held at Taman Siring KM 0 Banjarmasin City on July 22 to 24 July 2022. In the future, Irfan said he wanted to expand Uleen's business scale to be larger by opening stores throughout Indonesia to facilitate the delivery of online sales. Currently, Uleen is only producing and opening a sales store in Banjarbaru. the weight of wood in general.