Industry Ministry Holds IKM Workshop after Signing MoU with MCIT

Jakarta, InfoPublik - The Industry Ministry has followed up the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the development of the industrial sector through the utilization of information and communication technology (ICT) by encouraging small and medium industry (IKM) players to participate in workshop on photography, content writing, and product promotion.

"We have signed an MoU with MCIT and Bukalapak. This is a real action of the implementation of SMEs e-smart through a workshop which we started in Boyolali IKM center for its potentials," Industry Ministry’s IKM Director General Gati Wibawaningsih said in a statement on Sunday (1/29) while giving briefing in the Boyolali Industry and Trade agency office, Central Java.

She explained that the workshop was attended by 20 IKM players from various sectors such as metal craft, furniture, stingray skin bag craft, as well as food and beverages industries.

"Through the workshop, IKM players will not only gain knowledge but can also excercise under the guidance of the five instructors from Bukalapak,” she said.

Gati explained that through the workshop, IKM players could now upload their products in Bukalapak site. CV. Sentra Cipta, for instance,  promoted its batik pattern table, Nuanza Industry put its dragon carved keg for sale, Khoirul Munir Industry offered calligraphy brass, and Befanarya industry featured oyster mushroom chips.

The workshop aimed to facilitate IKM players or creative economy industries in the country to utilize technology in their product development in order to reach a wider market, involving a quite successful marketplace.

"MCIT will connect 50 IKM centers in Indonesia to the internet this year," she added.

Thus, according to Gati, the ministry hoped the quality of national IKM products can be more competitive so they can dominate the ASEAN and global markets.

"In the middle of this digital era development, our IKM must properly aim these opportunities," he said.

As we know, metal crafts produced by IKM centers in Tumang village of Boyolali, Central Java has penetrated the export market. Approsimately 53 percent of products from these copper and brass artisans are distributed to Malaysia, Japan, Australia, France, Russia, Korea, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the United States, while the rest is for the local market.

Based on Boyolali’s Industry and Trade Office data, the investment value of the metal IKM centers in Tumang village of Boyolali has reached Rp 5.9 billion with production value of Rp 3,46 billion in 2015. The number of IKM in these locations is 133 business units with 476 employees. Their other superior products are decorative lighting for indoors or outdoors, wall hangings, calligraphy, tables, domes, sinks, bathtubs, and sculptures. (Translator: Rina Alexandra)