UMKM (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) in Indonesia have long been a key pillar of the national economy, contributing more than 60% to GDP and creating almost 97% of job opportunities. The role of UMKM has become even more vital, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, which demonstrated that this sector was able to withstand and help the Indonesian economy avoid a deeper recession. However, despite its great potential, many UMKMs still face challenges in accessing global markets, thus requiring efforts to accelerate their growth. In this regard, PT Danareksa (Persero), part of the Danareksa BUMN Holding, has actively participated in the Lateral Thinking & Business Matching event initiated by Rumah BUMN Batam and the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) Johor Bahru, Malaysia, on December 5. This program aims to help Indonesian UMKMs level up and break into international markets, particularly by exploring export opportunities for their superior products in Malaysia.
Danareksa BUMN Holding has already fostered more than 1,000 UMKM partners from various sectors, including fashion, food, and handicrafts. In this event, 12 selected UMKMs were invited to take part in a series of programs designed to enhance competitiveness and open up global market opportunities. According to Agus Widjaja, EVP Corporate Secretary & CSR of Danareksa BUMN Holding, the company's commitment is to empower UMKMs to compete not only in the domestic market but also globally. This program has received support from the KJRI Johor Bahru, which mentioned that Indonesian UMKM products are highly favored in Malaysia, particularly in Johor Bahru, and therefore, the potential for expanding these products is enormous. Goklas Michael Hernandes Tampubolon, CEO of Rumah BUMN Batam, also emphasized Rumah BUMN Batam's commitment to continuously facilitating Indonesian UMKMs to go global, especially through programs like lateral thinking & business matching, leveraging Batam's strategic geographical location for market penetration in neighboring countries such as Singapore and Malaysia.
