Fourteen micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) participated in the Partner Meeting, a collaborative program between The Greater Hub SBM ITB and the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, as part of Program Pendampingan Usaha Mikro Mandiri 2024 in Yogyakarta on Tuesday (8/10). During the event, they attended workshops and sharing sessions highlighting the importance of collaboration in business partnerships.
Four financial institutions were present at the event, including BNI, BRI, BMT Artha Amanah, and PT Pegadaian. Additionally, marketing partners such as Kanza Busana Muslim, Bara Bakery and Gelato, Hamzah Batik, Jogja Pasaraya, Palka Art Craft, Makutho Solo, and PT Cerita Kreasi Nusantara also attended. The presence of these financing and marketing partners provided MSMEs with valuable opportunities to explore potential collaborations in both funding and product marketing.
The Partner Meeting extends the 2024 Micro Business Human Resource Capacity Development Assistance program. Its goal is to connect MSMEs with financial and marketing partners, promoting business self-sufficiency. After Yogyakarta, the program will be held in other cities, including Semarang, Makassar, and Bandung.
“This Partner Meeting program aims to foster greater independence for micro businesses. Achieving this requires strong access to financing and marketing, and this program seeks to bridge those gaps,” said Prof. Wawan Dhewanto, a representative from SBM ITB, in his opening remarks.
Previously, 900 MSMEs had registered for the mentoring program. After a rigorous selection process, around 120 MSMEs were chosen for intensive mentoring. In the final stage, 10 to 15 MSMEs from each city were selected to participate in the Partner Meeting events. These meetings allowed MSMEs to connect directly with financial and marketing partners, opening up opportunities for collaboration that could drive their business growth.
During the mentoring and Partner Meeting, participants gained valuable insights into business development strategies and how to leverage partnerships with external parties to strengthen their business operations. Each MSME had the chance to meet with financing and marketing partners, facilitating brief but productive discussions about potential collaborations. These interactions will generate mutually beneficial business opportunities and help MSMEs grow further.
This program is anticipated to have a significant impact on micro-entrepreneurs across Indonesia. With improved access to financing and marketing partners, MSMEs are expected to enhance their capacity and achieve sustainable business independence. The initiative reflects the strong commitment of The Greater Hub and the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs to support the development of the MSME sector in Indonesia.
The Partner Meeting program is hoped to continue effectively connecting MSMEs with partners who can help them expand and thrive. The event also aims to inspire more stakeholders to support Indonesia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
