BPDP to Develop Student Entrepreneurship Based on Plantation MSMEs
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) is preparing a platform for the younger generation, particularly university students, to develop ideas, innovation, and entrepreneurial potential based on Indonesian plantation commodities through ‘The Plantationpreneurs Festival 2026’.
Director of Law and Cooperation at BPDP, Pangihutan Siagian, stated that the programme is part of BPDP’s efforts to strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem based on plantation commodities, specifically palm oil, coconut, and cocoa.
These three commodities, he continued in a statement in Jakarta on Friday, offer vast development opportunities through downstreaming, product innovation, the use of technology, and the development of creative business models.
“The involvement of the younger generation is a vital part of building an innovative and sustainable future for the plantation sector,” he said.
Pangihutan added that the programme also provides space for young people to explore the various potentials of plantation derivative products and develop them into business ideas relevant to market needs.
“The Plantationpreneurs Festival 2026 is not designed merely as a competition, but as a series of coaching sessions that provide space for students to learn, develop ideas, receive feedback, build networks, and test their business potential,” he noted.
He explained that the success of the programme, which was launched on 28 September 2026, relies heavily on strong collaboration with universities as essential partners of BPDP in creating opportunities for students to develop creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit.
It is hoped, according to Pangihutan, that the roles of lecturers, supervisors, and entrepreneurship programme managers in each university will continue to encourage students to participate actively in this programme, while also mentoring them in developing their ideas and potential.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Community Cooperation and MSME Division of BPDP, Helmi Muhansyah, explained that through this programme, business proposals based on plantation commodities will be screened from students across 30 universities in Makassar, Medan, and Jakarta.
Following the screening process, there will be business incubation and in-depth training for the participating students. The programme will culminate in a festival for the selected participants to promote the products they have produced, enabling them to expand their businesses more widely in the future.
Helmi emphasised that BPDP wants more young people to recognise that the plantation sector offers immense room for development.
The challenge, he continued, is not just how to produce commodities, but how to create added value through creativity, technology, branding, and innovative business models.
“From this, we hope that Indonesia’s young plantationpreneurs will be born,” he concluded.