Three Dji Sam Soe Award winners selected from field of thousands<\/p>\n
Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
In appreciation of the role that small and medium-sized
\nenterprises (SME) play in the economy, PT HM Sampoerna presented
\non Thursday its Dji Sam Soe Award to three SMEs it regarded as
\nthe best in terms of their businesses and contributions to
\ncommunity development.<\/p>\n
The award for best SME was given to CV Sumber Berkat, a
\nshellfish processing enterprise located in Tangerang, Banten,
\nthat employs some 100 local workers and generates annual revenue
\nof Rp 3 billion (US$322,000).<\/p>\n
In second and third place were two SMEs from East Java --
\nSurabaya-based leather products manufacturer Citra Mulia Perkasa
\nand Malang-based waste-wood crafts maker UD Galeri 76.<\/p>\n
Citra Mulia Perkasa generates annual revenue of Rp 5 billion
\nand employs over 60 workers. Galeri 76, meanwhile, has been
\nemploying and rehabilitating local ex-convicts in an enterprise
\nthat generates annual revenue of Rp 3 billion.<\/p>\n
The Dji Sam Soe Award is supported by state-owned investment
\nfirm PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM), PT Tempo Inti Media
\nnews group, community development NGO Swisscontact and Dunamis
\nOrganization Services.<\/p>\n
Some 7,000 SMEs participated in the event, and were judged by
\nprominent people including agrobusiness entrepreneur Bob Sadino,
\ntraditional herbs businessman Charles Saerang, PT UKM Indonesia
\ndirector Eva Riyanti Hutapea, Swisscontact program manager Thomas
\nMeier, and Enny Harjanto of Dunamis.<\/p>\n
HM Sampoerna managing director Angky Camaro said that the
\naward was made to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship among
\nSMEs and the wider public.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the award will inspire SMEs to keep on improving
\ntheir businesses through various innovations, as well as empower
\ntheir communities,\" he said, adding that the cigarette giant
\nSampoerna itself also started as a small-scale home industry.<\/p>\n
Sumber Berkat owner Jahya Tjahyono hoped that the award would
\npressure the government to pay more attention to SMEs, including
\nfacilitating credit to develop their businesses.<\/p>\n
SMEs have proven their resilience in sustaining the national
\neconomy during hard times. While many big corporations failed and
\nwent bankrupt during the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, SMEs
\nmaintained their business, some even flourishing and providing
\njobs for those who became unemployed.<\/p>\n
In line with the International Year of Microcredit, the
\ngovernment has committed itself to help provide more financial
\nfacilities to SMEs through PT PNM and the banking industry.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/three-dji-sam-soe-award-winners-selected-from-field-of-thousands-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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