Swisscontact helps SMEs

JAKARTA (JP): Swisscontact, an international nonprofit organization, in cooperation with the World Bank is currently running a pilot project to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in East Java.

The organization said on Monday that the project, worth Rp 500 million (about US$66,500), aims to encourage SMEs to improve their business and management skills by receiving high quality training and utilizing advisory services.

Under the one-year project, SMEs are given the opportunity to obtain local business training and advisory services at a discounted price.

The project, which is also supported by PT Nestle Indonesia, will issue 10,000 discount vouchers at a price of Rp 1,000 each. The vouchers entitle the SMEs to discounts of 50 percent with a maximum of Rp 50,000 at 37 selected business training and service providers in the province.

Training and counseling is available in 12 different fields, including bookkeeping, management and marketing. (cst)