Festival Rasuna to promote SMEs<\/p>\n
Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Some 180 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and 120 private
\nbusinesses are expected to join the two-day Festival Rasuna 2004
\nat Pasar Festival, Jl. H. R. Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, on Feb.
\n14 and Feb. 15.<\/p>\n
With the theme \"Developing New and Competitive
\nEntrepreneurship\", the festival is being held out of concern that
\nSMEs are often neglected.<\/p>\n
Organizer Indo.com and main sponsor Bakrie & Brothers staged
\nthe event in their effort to support SMEs in developing their
\nbusinesses.<\/p>\n
\"Their contribution to the recovery of Indonesia's economy is
\nenormous. I recently read in a newspaper that according to the
\nMinistry of Industry and Trade, last year's commodity exports by
\nSMEs increased significantly to US$3.085 billion from $2.664
\nbillion in 2002. Yet, very often, their existence is ignored,\"
\nIndo.com director Eka Ginting said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He later brainstormed with his staff on what should be done to
\nenhance and develop SMEs.<\/p>\n
\"We thought about the Kemang Street Festival, how it was a big
\nsuccess. And we said, 'why not hold another festival?' This time,
\nit's not going to focus on crafts but more on general businesses.<\/p>\n
\"Then Bakrie & Brothers came along. They supported the idea
\nand we agreed to hold it at Pasar Festival as it has a more
\naccessible and strategic location,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Kemang Street Festival in South Jakarta was first held by
\nIndo.com in 2001. Since then it takes place every June 22, the
\nday Jakarta celebrates its anniversary.<\/p>\n
Eka explained that there would be around 300 booths at the
\nvenue. A seminar will be held on Feb. 16, at which SMEs will be
\nintroduced to potential foreign buyers.<\/p>\n
\"We haven't set any financial targets as it is purely an
\nattempt to help SMEs boost their opportunities to penetrate new
\nmarkets. But if you ask me, from the SMEs' point of view, I think
\nthey will expect to earn Rp 10 billion (US$1.19 million) to Rp 15
\nbillion from local or foreign visitors,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Bakrie & Brothers president director Bobby Gafur S. Umar said
\nhis company was interested in sponsoring the festival as it was a
\npositive move toward helping SMEs to find their place in the
\ncountry's economy.<\/p>\n
\"Our company is committed to helping SMEs have bigger and
\nbetter opportunities in terms of business, as our company once
\nstarted out as an SME,\" said Bobby.<\/p>\n
One of Bakrie & Brothers affiliates, Bina Mitra Bakrie
\nFoundation (YMBM), is also participating in the event.<\/p>\n
\"Our foundation helps SMEs develop their skills in doing
\nbusiness, how to write a proposal, how to deal with export
\nsystems, how to ask for a loan from a bank, things like that.
\nIt's as though we're giving them the bait instead of the fish,\"
\nsaid YMBM head Hisyam Sulaiman.<\/p>\n
He added that usually YBMB would hold a recruitment drive for
\nSMEs six times a year, each involving around 30 SMEs, at a
\ntraining cost of around Rp 1 million per SME.<\/p>\n
\"Then, after they complete the training and become qualified,
\nwe'd look and see if their business matched ours. If it did,
\nthey'd become our business partners. If it didn't, then we'd
\nbring in foreign partners to buy their products. Thus, it would
\nbe a win-win situation,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
To date, Hisyam told The Jakarta Post, YBMB had approximately
\n10,000 SMEs throughout the country working in partnership with
\nBakrie & Brothers.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/festival-rasuna-to-promote-smes-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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