Bulog provides business capital for new RPK establishment for MSMEs in Yogyakarta

Perum Bulog has provided business capital facilities for the establishment of new ‘Rumah Pangan Kita’ (RPK) outlets for 30 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Yogyakarta, Special Region of Yogyakarta.

“This is part of the Bulog Care TJSL (Social and Environmental Responsibility) activity, involving the handover of working capital to MSME managers and new RPK operators,” said the Director of Operations and Public Service of Perum Bulog, Andi Afdal, following the event in Yogyakarta on Thursday.

According to him, the Yogyakarta MSMEs receiving assistance for the establishment of these RPK outlets are part of a partnership with the state-owned food enterprise to sell a portion of the commodities available at Bulog.

“There are 30 new RPKs, and the recipients are characterised by being persons with disabilities or disabled individuals; each of them received working capital of Rp5 million for their business,” he said.

Andi stated that in realising the Bulog Care Programme in Yogyakarta, his party collaborated with the City Government through the Department of Social Affairs, Manpower, and Transmigration to ensure the initiative is directed towards strengthening the MSME sector.

“Our hope is certainly that this will be socially beneficial. We are looking for the social impact of activities like this, not just for the individuals involved, but for the community as a whole,” he said.

He also expressed hope that the RPKs, which sell essential commodity items, will benefit the community and the economy of Yogyakarta City, while simultaneously serving as a pillar for food security in the region.

“We are aware that Yogyakarta is a place with extraordinary food consumption, as it hosts many tourists from across Indonesia,” he added.

Furthermore, he noted that to ensure the sustainability of the RPK Programme, his party continues to conduct monitoring. In addition to the capital, MSME participants are also provided with knowledge, experience, and various other necessities required for the business.

“We also assist by providing what they need. After providing the capital, we do not simply leave them. The team from Bulog, together with the City Government, provides access to information and other essential elements needed so they can continue to survive,” he said.

Perum Bulog hopes that the RPKs managed by disabled MSMEs in Yogyakarta can grow and even serve as a successful pilot project that can be replicated in various regions across Indonesia.

“The hope is that this can become a good example, so that in other regions, our friends with disabilities can be empowered to contribute to the community’s economy,” he concluded.