Blora Regent Arief Rohman Uses 'Culinary Diplomacy' to Promote Local SMEs

Blora Regent Arief Rohman chose a different approach when entertaining guests from the central government. Instead of holding a banquet at a hotel or a starred restaurant, he invited Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ahmad Erani Yustika and his entourage to enjoy local cuisine at Warung Lontong Opor Pak Pangat, Ngloram, on Friday (17/7). PEM Akamigas Cepu Director Erdila Indriani also joined the entourage. The lunch at the modest eatery was warm and far from formal. Arief said that choosing a local food stall as the venue for the banquet was not merely about enjoying regional dishes. According to him, the move was part of an effort to introduce the culinary potential while simultaneously encouraging the promotion of Blora’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (UMKM) to national policymakers. ‘Just the appearance alone is appetising. It feels like Lebaran every day when eating Lontong Opor at Pak Pangat’s place in Ngloram,’ said Regent Arief between mouthfuls. For Blora’s number one official, inviting important guests to eat at a local stall is not just about filling an empty stomach. It is a well-thought-out strategy he calls culinary diplomacy—a guerrilla tactic to promote Blora’s UMKM directly to the heart of national policymaking. He believes that the experience of enjoying cuisine together with guests in its place of origin leaves a stronger impression than promotion through any media. ‘When they enjoy it and give their appreciation, they indirectly become promotional ambassadors for Blora,’ Arief explained with sparkling eyes. Arief believes that a sensory experience—tasting the delicious food right where it is made—sticks in the memory far more than any thick tourism brochure. When that memory sticks, it transforms into a story that is brought back to the capital, opening doors for investment opportunities and expanding the market for local culinary artisans. The strategy received a positive response from Ahmad Erani Yustika. The ESDM Secretary General admitted he was impressed by the taste of Pak Pangat’s Lontong Opor, which he was trying for the first time. ‘I used to imagine that the best opor came from my hometown or other cities,’ Erani confessed. ‘But after tasting Lontong Opor Pak Pangat Ngloram, this is the top one. The others are eliminated before the semi-finals!’ he joked, drawing laughter from everyone in the stall. In more detail, Erani praised the texture of the dish served. ‘The lontong is not too dense, so it tastes very good, combined with the extraordinary opor flavour,’ he added. This honest appreciation from a central government official is a breath of fresh air and an incredible psychological boost for Blora’s culinary SMEs. The recognition confirms that Blora’s local flavours are competitive with those of big cities. Lontong Opor Pak Pangat is just one of thousands of SME portraits being pushed to ‘level up’. The local government is fully aware that SMEs are the main pillar keeping the people’s economy pulsating. Therefore, the support does not stop at Pak Pangat’s dining table. The Blora Regency Government is simultaneously intensifying empowerment programmes, ranging from business mentoring and regular training, facilitating business permits, strengthening branding and digital marketing, to opening access for promotion at various regional and national events. Arief further emphasised that Blora’s progress should not only be measured by the grandeur of its physical infrastructure projects, but by the economic empowerment of its people.