Female MSMEs Expand Market Access Through LAKSMI Mentorship Programme

Expanding market access remains a significant challenge for female micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) entrepreneurs. Following the completion of training and mentorship, business owners are identified as needing broader marketing access to ensure their enterprises can develop sustainably.

Bastian, Assistant Deputy for Entrepreneurship Financing Expansion at the Ministry of MSMEs, stated that strengthening female MSMEs requires more than just training; it also necessitates financial support and expanded market access. “We appreciate the YCAB Foundation and Elamet for introducing the LAKSMI programme. We hope female MSME entrepreneurs can continue to develop their businesses by utilising available support, including Ministry of MSME programmes such as Sapa UMKM and access to financing,” Bastian said in a press release.

As part of the initiative, Eramet, in collaboration with the YCAB Foundation, organised the ‘Local Finds Market by LAKSMI’, showcasing products from 50 female MSME entrepreneurs. These participants were entrepreneurs who had previously undergone the LAKSMI (Langkah Aksi Kapasitas Sosial Mikro untuk Inklusi) programme.

Arend Van der Goes, Senior Sustainability Manager at Eramet Indonesia, noted that the event serves as a platform for participants to introduce their products to the public and explore market opportunities. “Through the Local Finds Market, we aim to provide a space for participants to present their products directly to the community while opening up larger market opportunities,” said Arend.

Linda Sukandar, Chief Operations Officer of the YCAB Foundation, reported that 464 MSME entrepreneurs participated in the LAKSMI training and mentorship programme. From that group, 50 participants were selected to participate in the Local Finds Market. “The journey to today began with training attended by 464 MSME entrepreneurs, from which the 50 best participants were selected to attend the Local Finds Market. This activity is expected to help MSMEs expand market access while simultaneously improving product quality,” Linda explained.

The LAKSMI programme is part of Eramet’s ‘Women for Future’ initiative. The programme has been implemented in Jakarta and Ternate, providing training, mentorship, and business capacity building for female MSME owners. Additionally, participants are introduced to the use of digital platforms and e-commerce to support product marketing.