Deputy Minister of Trade Praises Modern Retailers for Supporting SMEs

Surabaya, East Java - Deputy Minister of Trade (Wamendag) Dyah Roro Esti has praised modern retail business operators for facilitating micro, small, and medium enterprises (UMKM), providing them with a platform to market their products. “We are truly impressed and highly appreciate this because it is very creative. Here, it provides a venue for UMKM so they can sell their products,” she told ANTARA in Surabaya on Tuesday. In addition to shelf space, Roro said these modern retail facilities can also add value to UMKM products. She cited an example of a modern retailer in Surabaya, East Java, that accommodates tens of thousands of UMKM products ranging from sambal, crisps, cakes, cooking spices, handicrafts, and more, namely Pusat Oleh-Oleh Bu Rudy. Pusat Oleh-Oleh Bu Rudy itself has become legendary and an icon of the City of Heroes, attracting domestic and international tourists visiting Surabaya to buy souvenirs. The position of Bu Rudy’s modern retail provides added value to the UMKM products on its shelves because many UMKM products ultimately become must-buy souvenirs for tourists. “In my view, this adds value because it provides a venue for UMKM, so anyone visiting Surabaya who wants to shop at Bu Rudy will find these UMKM products,” Roro said. She hopes that the efforts of modern retailers in facilitating UMKM products will create multiplier effects for modern retail operators, UMKM, and the regional and national economy. Moreover, some UMKM products on display at Bu Rudy’s souvenir centre have successfully been exported to several countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Japan, proving that local products are in demand in the international market. Roro wants this success to serve as an example for other modern retail operators to help the government in advancing UMKM products to the next level. “We hope this creates a multiplier effect because the products sell better and become more recognised. Moreover, Bu Rudy is a retail hub that attracts tourists. I saw earlier that there were even visitors from abroad,” she said. Director of Culinary Business at Bu Rudy, Ferry Siswadi, stated that there are 10,000 products from more than 800 UMKM on display at Pusat Oleh-Oleh Bu Rudy, with 50 to 80 of them having penetrated the global market. Owner of Bu Rudy, Lanny Siswandi, said that the challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic were the starting point for her idea to help UMKM operators. At that time, Lanny said, she was concerned about UMKM affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led her to expand her souvenir centre to accommodate more UMKM products. She revealed that there are only two requirements for UMKM products to enter Bu Rudy’s shelves: possessing a Household Industry Food (PIRT) permit, which is essential for processed food and beverage UMKM products, and having a halal certification. “We help each other; UMKM must also maintain their products if they want to continue partnering with Bu Rudy. I also want UMKM to succeed. Not just Bu Rudy succeeding. I only have that dream. UMKM advance together with Bu Rudy,” Lanny said.