SME’s HUB ASEAN Summit: Pertamina's Momentum for MSMEs to Reach International Markets

West Manggarai, May 8, 2023 - PT Pertamina (Persero) continues to push its MSMEs towards the international market through one of its effort, which is participating in the SME’s HUB ASEAN SUMMIT Side Event, which will be held from May 9 to 13, 2023 in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

SME’s HUB ASEAN Summit is an ASEAN SUMMIT side event that provides a platform for MSME entrepreneurs to showcase their creative works while selling their superior products to the ASEAN SUMMIT Delegates. At the event, Pertamina will present eight MSME products in the craft sector and eight MSME products in the food sector, which come from the Rumah BUMN (RB) of Lombok Timur and RB Klungkung, Bali, as well as exposing Pertamina's CSR activities.

As a national energy company, Pertamina plays a significant role in developing the Indonesian economy through programs that encourage MSMEs growth. Moreover, through the SME’s HUB ASEAN Summit, it is hoped that MSME entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to meet and directly discuss with delegates from ASEAN countries in expanding their business networks. 

VP of Corporate Communication of PT Pertamina (Persero), Fadjar Djoko Santoso, said that through the SME’s HUB ASEAN Summit 2023, MSMEs would gain new spirit, confidence, and optimism that opportunities to penetrate the international market are increasingly wide open. Fajar added that the SME’s HUB Summit is the right moment for MSME entrepreneurs to introduce their products to the world. Thus they can improve their competitiveness in the global market.

"This event is a momentum that must be utilized by the entire community, considering that the activities held in this Super Priority Tourism Area can provide positive impacts for Pertamina's fostered SMEs. This follows SDG's point 8, where the company continues to encourage inclusive and sustainable economic growth, intensively mentoring and supporting fostered SMEs to expand their market share by proving the quality of their products in the international market," said Fadjar.

In the SME’s HUB ASEAN Summit event, Pertamina's fostered MSMEs will introduce various superior products, such as pearl crafts, bamboo weaving, woven fabric, handicrafts made from burlap, painted fans, and various Lombok food products. 

D'etnic Istana Mutiara Lombok presented its superior products prepared for the ASEAN Summit 2023 while still showing its identity as an ethnic-themed craft. Janual Aidi, the owner of D'etnic Istana Mutiara Lombok, has prepared his products well in advance for this event. "There is quite a large demand for pearls in Southeast Asia. Our buyers are also around 70% from Southeast Asia, such as Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, and Malaysia. It is an opportunity that we cannot miss," he said.

Meanwhile, EthneeQ and Uwais Craft are fashion industry trading businesses that produce natural-based bags using burlap as their main material, as well as Indonesian cloth as a combination to highlight Indonesian culture. Interestingly, Uwais Craft and EthneeQ use leftover fabric combined in their products to reduce textile waste. 

Sinar Pande MSME offers various handicrafts ranging from Kamasan-style wayang paintings, painted fans to souvenirs. Meanwhile, in the food sector, they present excellent products made from processed seaweed, cashews, Lombok chili sauce, banana chips, black garlic, nunggal onions combined with honey, and brownies chips. All of them are processed without using preservatives or other chemicals.

The various MSME products showcased in the 42nd ASEAN Summit’s Side Event are expected to provide a special impression for delegates and domestic and foreign tourists. "It is hoped that these MSME products can be taken as souvenirs to their respective countries. Therefore, in addition to being more widely known, it is certainly an effective promotional tool," said Fadjar.**