Pertamina Invites 800 MSMEs to Upgrade Through UMK Academy and Pertapreneur Aggregator 2023
Jakarta, July 7, 2023 – To drive intensive micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) upgrade and foster collaborative concepts, Pertamina, in collaboration with Markplus, is accelerating MSMEs’ growth through the virtual Kick Off of UMK Academy and Pertapreneur Aggregator 2023, held on Thursday, July 6.
This UMK Academy is being held for the fourth time and carries the "Improving Quality, Becoming the Champion of the Class" theme. This program emphasizes that MSMEs are not forced to upgrade but aims to equip them with the necessary skills to compete effectively in their current positions. Meanwhile, in its second year, Pertapreneur Aggregator "Creativity Synergy of MSMEs in Managing Opportunities", aims to challenge MSMEs to use their creativity in seeing and taking advantage of business opportunities, especially collaboration between MSMEs.
Pertapreneur aggregator refers to fostered MSMEs expected to be catalysts for other MSMEs.
In her opening speech, Nicke Widyawati, President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero), stated that since the UMK Academy program was launched in 2020, more than 1,200 MSMEs have successfully met the challenges of business competition at local and global levels. Furthermore, female and millennial entrepreneurs have equal opportunities, leading to MSME aggregators emergence who can build collaborative networks among entrepreneurs to progress together.
"We believe that collaborations like this are key to building a strong and sustainable ecosystem for MSMEs," explained Nicke.
Similarly, Pertamina, collaborates with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy to develop MSMEs in tourism destinations under DPSP (Developing Priority Tourism Destination) since 2022. Various capacity-building initiatives for MSMEs have been implemented, such as business networking events with HORECA (Hotel, Restaurant, and Cafe). Tourism destinations' progress under DPSP indirectly benefits MSMEs. This successful collaboration serves as a strategy to enhance the capacity of MSMEs to prepare them for competition, as mentioned by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, in his speech.
The program will run in the next five months, with participants being grouped based on their business conditions. The Go Modern class is intended for MSMEs focusing on improving their products’ quality and marketing. The Go Digital and Go Online are designed for MSMEs aiming to expand their market access through online platforms. Lastly, the Go Global class is tailored for MSMEs fully prepared to enter the global market through export activities. Participants will also have numerous opportunities to collaborate and access other business support facilities.
Through UMK Academy and Pertapreneur Aggregator, it is expected to elevate MSMEs to upgrade, stimulate increased productivity, explore new ideas, foster innovation to remain competitive and enhance public support for domestic products.
The mentoring activities for MSMEs through the UMK Academy and Pertapreneur Aggregator programs supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation, which are also part of the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) framework.
Fadjar Djoko Santoso, Vice President of Corporate Communication at PT Pertamina (Persero), stated that UMK Academy is a structured, progressive, and integrated mentoring program tailored to the needs and expectations of fostered MSMEs. The mentoring process for MSMEs also adapts to market trends and challenges, following the company's commitment to supporting MSMEs’ sustainable development for optimal growth.
"We hope all MSMEs can become the best graduates in their respective fields, continuously fostering creativity and innovation while bridging the gap between supply and demand. We must identify market potential and even become trendsetters," said Fadjar.
Fadjar added that MSMEs should balance innovation and initiatives with environmental awareness. "One tangible way for MSMEs to contribute to the environment is by paying attention to the packaging materials used and their impact on the environment," he concluded.
Pertamina, as a leading company in the energy transition, is committed to supporting the Net Zero Emission 2060 target by continuously promoting programs that directly impact the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievement. All these efforts align with Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) implementation across all Pertamina's business lines and operations.**