Software, multimedia companies to help train SMEs in Cikarang

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

To help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) compete in the era of globalization, software giant Microsoft, multimedia company Indosat Mega Media and President University will work together to provide information technology training to hundreds of SMEs.

Microsoft Indonesia's marketing manager, Lucas Tjahjaprawira, said they would begin training this week about 800 SMEs in the Jababeka Industrial Estate in Cikarang, Bekasi, on how to apply information technology to their businesses.

"Microsoft, Indosat and President University have signed a memorandum of understanding to train and assist about 800 SMEs in Jababeka for three years. We will begin the program this week," he told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Lucas said the three organizations would begin with very simple computer applications because most of the SMEs were unfamiliar with even basic computer knowledge.

In the first year of the program, the SMEs will be trained in how to use computers, how to establish a simple homepage and how to sell their products over a website.

Microsoft will provide affordable software, Indosat will provide the Internet bandwidth and President University will provide the training.

"This will allow the SMEs to promote their products worldwide through the web," said Indosat Mega Media president director Brata T. Hardjosubroto.

After evaluating the results of the first year of training and assistance, the SMEs will be trained in the second year in how to use computers and software to manage and maintain customers, to conduct video conferences and to manage human resources.

In the third year, the SMEs will be trained in computerized accounting systems and enterprise resource planning.

"The program aims to boost the competitiveness of the SMEs through the utilization of information technology. Microsoft will provide technology that can help the SMEs raise their potential, which, in turn, will also help the Indonesian economy," Microsoft Indonesia president director Tony Chen said.

After three years, the program will be expanded to other industrial areas in Cikarang, Lucas said.

He said they had identified about 5,000 SMEs in five other industrial areas that would be trained in the next round of the program.

According to data from the Office of the State Minister for Cooperatives and SMEs, the country has a total of 25 million SMEs.

Although SMEs proved to be resilient during the 1998 financial crisis when most conglomerates were wiped out, and have been an essential source of employment for years, many SMEs have complained that the government has continued to ignore their needs.

They say the government has not given them the opportunity to grow and compete. The government and banks prefer to channel loans to large companies, despite the fact that it was the large companies that forfeited on their bank loans during the 1998 crisis.