The Provincial Government of Riau has allocated 150 mini-stage booths for promoting products, services, and branding for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the 2024 Indonesian Proud Movement (Gernas BBI). These booths aim to showcase a variety of local MSME products, potentially fostering a dual economic impact for the community, stated Acting Governor of Riau SF Hariyanto in Pekanbaru on Tuesday. In addition to the 150 booths for local MSMEs participating in the Gernas BBI event, which coincides with the Proud Indonesian Tourism Movement (BBWI), exhibition booths will also be available for regional governments and various other institutions. Hariyanto highlighted that the Riau Provincial Government has meticulously prepared for the Gernas event, with active support and participation from all stakeholders, including local governments, businesses, and the public, ensuring a smooth execution of Gernas BBI/BBWI 2024.
The Gernas BBI/BBWI event is scheduled to take place from May 3-5, 2024, at the Riau Governor's Office compound on Jalan Cut Meutia in Pekanbaru. Riau Province boasts potential and flagship products that support the BBI/BBWI Program, with a diverse range of local products reflecting the region's characteristics and rich natural resources, attracting tourists from various areas. Six provinces are slated to attend, with three others soon to follow. As the host organizer, the Riau Provincial Government will consult with the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) and the Ministry of Transportation. Furthermore, the Lancang Kuning Carnival 2024 will be a fashion carnival-based festival featuring craft exhibitions and showcasing 307 costumes and a mass colossal dance involving 10,000 dancers from students. M. Taufiq OH, Head of the Riau Provincial Office of Industry, Trade, Cooperative, Small, and Medium Enterprises (Disperindagkop UKM), noted that this program was launched by President Joko Widodo on May 14, 2023, focusing on optimizing government spending for domestic products. The Gernas BBI initiative, expanded to include the Proud Indonesian Tourism Movement (BBWI) in 2023-2024, aims to onboard 20.6 million local MSME units into the digital ecosystem, edging closer to the target of 30 million MSMEs by 2024 set by President Joko Widodo.
