Jakarta, August 16, 2021, INOTEK collaborate with Sampoerna for Indonesia commemorated National MSME Day and Indonesian Independence Day by holding a national seminar entitled MSME Rising Through the Application of SNI, Monday (16/8/2021). The seminar was intended as an opening activity towards a series of “Festival UMKM #Bangkitwirausaha” which will be held on 18-22 August 2021.

This national seminar aims to inflame the spirit of MSMEs in improving the quality of their products to increase competitiveness and add insight related to the application and certification of the Indonesian National Standard (SNI). In addition to improving quality, SNI also creates public trust as consumers to ensure the health, safety, and security of products for its users.

The Head of the National Standardization Agency (BSN), Kukuh S. Achmad, said that according to Law Number 20 of 2014 concerning Standardization and Conformity Assessment, BSN cooperates with ministries and institutions and/or local governments as well as other related parties to provide guidance and facilitate SNI certification for MSMEs so that MSMEs are more competitive so that they can go global.

Product standardization for MSMEs is an effort to maintain product quality and business efficiency. If MSMEs already have standardization, then business competitiveness will be stronger and MSMEs ability to go global can be achieved,” said Ilham Habibie as INOTEK Foundation Advisory Board.

In line with Ilham, Fiki Satari, Special Staff of the Minister for Creative Economy Empowerment representing the Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (KUKM) Teten Masduki, said that standardization is important so that MSMEs are ready to compete in global and domestic markets. This is a form of the government’s partisanship in the context of increasing the competitiveness of MSMEs at the national and global levels.

“We appreciate the steps of cooperation between all parties such as through this program to promote Indonesian MSMEs,” explained Fiki.

Head of External Affairs of PT HM Sampoerna Tbk Ishak Danuningrat, said that Sampoerna’s commitment in supporting the growth of MSMEs, especially to be able to survive and grow during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Through the umbrella of Sampoerna’s sustainability program for Indonesia, we always support MSMEs  continue to grow as one of the main drivers of the national economy,” added Ishak.

This activity is part of the series of Build Back National Economy Better (BBNEB) programs from Inotek and Sampoerna which are aimed in supporting entrepreneurs and MSMEs as the pillars of the nation’s economy which are now affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The BBNEB program is designed to support the economic recovery of the community by assisting for MSMEs to adapt in limited business movements due to applicable social restrictions.