Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have a very large contribution to economic growth in Indonesia. This sector is a major player in the absorption of domestic labor, besides that, it is also a support of economic equality. In contrast to large companies whose dominance is in the capital or city center.
Petrokimia Gresik is an Agroindustry Solution company and a member Pupuk Indonesia holding also realizes the role of this MSMEs. For this reason, in carrying out its function as an agent of development, Petrokimia Gresik seeks to build MSMEs through the company's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program by providing capital loan assistance, along with comprehensive business assistance.
President Director of Petrokimia Gresik Dwi Satriyo Annurogo explained that, Petrokimia Gresik which provides solutions for the agroindustry sector from upstream to downstream, this commitment is also implemented to advance MSMEs in the country.
First, Petrokimia Gresik raises MSMEs through capital loan assistance. The partnership budget distributed by Petrokimia Gresik is high every year. Where in 2016, Petrokimia Gresik has distributed IDR 48.5 billion for 3,836 business players, then in 2017 again provided a capital loan of IDR 49.2 billion (3,075 business players), in 2018 worth IDR 43.7 billion (2,296 business players), and in 2019 amounting to IDR 45.98 billion (2,117 MSME players).
In 2020, Petrokimia Gresik disbursed CSR funds of IDR 41.8 billion to help develop 1,579 MSME players. This figure reaches 80.1% of the CSR budget of IDR 51.8 billion. Meanwhile, if the total starts in 2016 until now there have been 12,903 business players or MSMEs that Petrokimia Gresik has assisted with a total budget of more than IDR 229.18 billion.
"Providing working capital to MSME players is a strategy for Petrokimia Gresik in order to provide a stimulus for regional economic stability, especially in the midst of the Covid-19 outbreak to support the government in its efforts to restore the national economy," Dwi Satriyo said, Monday (1/3).
Many of these capital loans were given to MSMEs in East Java. Some also came from Blora (Central Java), then Sleman, Bantul, and Kulon Progo (Yogyakarta).
"This is a form of Petrokimia Gresik's commitment to actively participate in improving the community's economy by providing working capital," he said.
Second, in supporting the government to raise the growth of national MSMEs, Petrokimia Gresik also provides business assistance, including helping MSME players have quality products and Indonesian National Standards (SNI).
"This is important, so that the MSMEs products of our fostered partners can be widely accepted in the market. The products are competitive so that their business is getting stronger and more independent," said Dwi Satriyo.
This program was started in 2019 by including 2 (two) fostered partners in the batik industry sector from Bangkalan Regency. Both are Zulpah Batik and CV Vatur Jaya. Thanks to this certification program, the efforts of the two fostered MSMEs partners have continued to progress until now.
Third, Petrokimia Gresik also provides assistance in marketing MSMEs products that have become fostered partners, including through a number of exhibition events and marketing training online, such as creating a website. This is done so that MSMEs can have a wider market, and are able to keep up with changes in the way market shopping in this all-digital era.
"In line with the company's progress, we also want to spread even more benefits to the community. Hopefully the role of Petrokimia Gresik for the MSMEs sector can help the national economy recover amid the Covid-19 outbreak which is still around us," said Dwi Satriyo. (* / Wildan / Hartono)
