The Regional Leadership Council (DPW) of the Awakening of the Nation\nParty (PKB) in West Java is strengthening the empowerment of micro,\nsmall, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) operators. This move is marked\nby the establishment of an association and cooperative for warung (food\nstall) owners under the Food Bank initiative.<\/p>\n
Syaiful Huda, Chairperson of the PKB DPW West Java, stated that the\nprogramme is intended for MSME operators who wish to become Food Bank\npartners. \u201cAnyone can join as a Food Bank partner,\u201d he said in Bandung\non Friday, 13 March.<\/p>\n
He explained that the programme, which was initiated two weeks prior,\nis now entering an institutionalisation phase. With a formal cooperative\nframework in place, small business operators are expected to no longer\noperate independently but to possess collective strength for\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis means we have reached the institutionalisation level. The Food\nBank is now institutionalised at the warung level. Whereas previously\nthey operated individually, now they can meet and get to know each other\nthrough this association,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
As part of strengthening the ecosystem, Food Bank has prepared a\nseries of mentoring programmes. One of the main agendas is cooking\ntraining involving professional chefs to educate warung owners.<\/p>\n
The initiative will focus on providing guidance covering crucial\naspects such as improved food hygiene, flavour standardisation, and\npackaging innovation. \u201cTo ensure food safety standards, maintain flavour\nquality to remain competitive, and improve product appearance to be more\nattractive and professional,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Through this, he hopes MSME operators can upgrade their business\nstanding. \u201cWe want the quality and flavour of cooking from each warung\nto improve, including improvements to packaging so that their products\ncan move up market.\u201d<\/p>\n
Huda emphasised that through institutionalisation, the PKB West Java\nis encouraging MSME operators to shift their business strategy from\npassive to proactive. Food stalls located in residential areas or narrow\nalleys are now being encouraged to actively pursue corporate and\ngovernment markets.<\/p>\n
Products from Food Bank cooperative members will eventually be\nmarketed to various formal forums, ranging from council member meetings,\nregional government meetings, to events at private companies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe objective is clear: to increase their sales to middle-market\nlevels. We want these MSME products to be present at corporate meetings\nand various major events,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n
To date, at least 350 MSME operators in Bandung City have joined this\nnetwork. This figure is expected to continue growing as the Food Bank\nprogramme is a directive for all party structures and council members of\nthe PKB across every district and city in West Java.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is only in Bandung City so far. The Food Bank actually exists\nacross all districts and cities because it is an obligation for all PKB\ncouncil members and DPC structures to implement it in their respective\nareas,\u201d Huda concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pkb-west-java-launches-food-bank-to-strengthen-msme-ecosystem-1773410277", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }