SMEs assisted by PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) participated in the National SME Day Peak which was held at the Jakabaring Sport City Dinning Hall, Palembang, on 5-8 September 2024.PTBA invited the Bukit Asam Industrial Center (SIBA) Rosella, SIBA Batik Kujur, Beskabean Coffee, FnR Craft, and Arsyillah Craft in this exhibition with the theme "SMEs Progressing Sustainably Towards a Golden Indonesia".
The products on display include health drinks made from rosella, kujur batik, processed coffee products, songket bags and various handicrafts.
Junardi, Assistant Manager of Micro & Small Enterprise Funding PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA), said that PTBA carried out SME development as an effort to improve the welfare of the community around the company's operational areas. One of the supports provided is involving assisted SMEs in exhibitions for promotion and expanding marketing.
"We support the assisted SMEs in terms of mentoring and coaching. In terms of product marketing, we involve the assisted SMEs in national and international scale exhibitions. The aim is to expand the network and promote the products of the assisted SMEs so that they can compete with other products and move up in class," said Junardi.
Various assistance and coaching efforts are carried out by PTBA for SMEs around the company's operational areas. In order to increase financial access, for example, PTBA provided loan funds from 1992 to 2022. Borrowed funds are now being transferred through BRI with cooperation between PTBA and BRI.
Then the quality of the products of the assisted SMEs is improved through the help of production equipment, packaging, and so on. Then to expand market access, PTBA carries out training and collaborates with PaDi UMKM and other digital e-commerce platforms.
Product photo training, online marketing, promotions are carried out to increase sales of SME products. PTBA also involves SMEs to take part in exhibitions at local and international levels. The company also built the Bukit Asam Industrial Center (SIBA) and Rumah BUMN as a forum for SMEs to market their products.
Throughout 2023, PTBA has held 42 trainings, included assisted SMEs in 20 exhibitions and fairs, 3 internships and site visits, and provided facilities and infrastructure assistance for 10 assisted SMEs. As a result, as many as 240 SMEs were successfully promoted to class in 2023.
