Business Meeting with Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Pertamina Performs Upskilling for 80 MSEs DPSP Labuan Bajo

Jakarta, July 30, 2022 - Through collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) of the Republic of Indonesia, PT Pertamina (Persero) held an upskilling activity for 80 leading MSEs in the Super Priority Tourism Destination (DPSP) Labuan Bajo held online on July 26-28, 2022.

This activity is carried out to increase MSEs' capacity ahead of business meetings with the tourism and hospitality industry of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to strengthen the tourism industry and the creative economy in the Super Priority Tourism Destination (DPSP) Labuan Bajo supply chain, while time providing access to economic opportunities for MSEs. Thus, it has a positive impact on increasing the NTT tourism sector.

The Deputy for Industry and Investment of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Henky Manurung, Director of Industrial Management at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Anggara Hayun Anujuprana, President Director of the Labuan Bajo Authority Implementing Agency, Shana Fatina, and from Pertamina represented by Rudi Ariffianto as SMEPP Manager were present. 51 MSEs in the culinary sector, 16 MSEs in fashion, and 13 MSEs in handicrafts also attended.

"Tourism is one of the sectors most affected by Covid-19 due to the imposition of restrictions on community activities where there has been a decline in the tourist visits level, which has a direct impact on the demand for MSE products," said Rudi Ariffianto, SMEPP Manager of Pertamina. Rudi added that this condition made Pertamina and other stakeholders aggressively make efforts so that the tourism industry and MSEs rose ahead of the Covid-19 recovery.

Pertamina always supports the various efforts made by the government to provide facilitation to Fostered Partners for always accompanying them through various coaching programs, training, and access to business capital loans. "Through the UMK Academy program, Pertamina focuses on making Fostered Partners become upgraded MSEs," he said. In 2020-2021, UMK Academy has graduated around 750 Partners.

In his speech, Henky Manurung said that following the President of the Republic of Indonesia's direction through his ministers, he hoped that supply chain activities at DPSP Labuan Bajo were supplied from MSME actors in Labuan Bajo from basic materials to other needs. "It is hoped that in future, in business meetings with hotel industry players, MSME players in Labuan Bajo can take part in making their products used as souvenirs for visitors," he said.

Meanwhile, Anggara Hayun Anujuprana, explained a series of collaborative upskilling activities between Pertamina and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy to increase MSEs’ capacity in branding strategies, public speaking, negotiation techniques, and pricing strategies when facing business actors from the hospitality and tourism industry in business meetings.

After upskilling activities, assistance will be provided to all MSEs until business meeting activities implementation up to an agreement is reached between MSEs and business actors.

VP CSR & SMEPP Management of Pertamina, Fajriyah Usman, hopes that fostered partners MSEs in Labuan Bajo can implement the training results to support their business. “They have tremendous potential. Hopefully with the training provided, MSEs can be better prepared to compete by continuously improving product quality," she said.

MSEs have a tremendous opportunity especially with the current trend shift to local products. The design and quality are no less competitive with big brands, "with the training provided, MSME actors is hoped to become more confident and more resilient and independent," she added.

Pertamina continues to strive helping move the community's economy after the decline in Covid-19 with the MSE Funding program and provides energy that can move the national economy-energy that fuels, as well as the energy that produces sustainable growth. "And strive to continue in encouraging every Fostered Partner to become MSEs that upgrade and Go Global," she conveyed.

By upgrading the MSME class, it is hoped that it can support the government's efforts in realizing economic independence and providing job opportunities, "This is an implementation of Goal 8 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is hoped that it can help people get decent jobs and encourage national economic growth.”**