MSME actors in Papua use digital platforms in doing business

The Directorate of Information Applications (Aptika) of the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kemkominfo) assessed that currently Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Papua have used digital platforms to support their business.

This was known when the Aptika Directorate conducted monitoring in Papua on several MSME centers in the region in the context of Active Selling 2021.

The Coordinator for the Adoption of MSME Digital Technology at the Ministry of Communication and Information, Sumarno, said that many MSME actors were already using digital platforms to develop their business.
"They have also developed and advanced by selling cross-island through digital platforms," ​​said Sumarno, Sunday (11/07/2011).

According to him, social media platforms and marketplaces have been successfully implemented to expand the market.

However, the application of cashier and aggregator applications seems to be very lacking. In fact, these two applications are able to make business processes more effective and efficient.

Then, the two prima donna commodities from Papua that have penetrated the national market are Coffee and Red Fruit.

Sumarno also encouraged these MSME actors to implement aggregator applications to facilitate online store monitoring and cashier applications to facilitate bookkeeping.

One of the traders who produces Papuan accessories, named Wamby, said that he has been working on the Holtekamp Beach for six years.
He also produces various snacks from bananas that he sells offline and online through social media.

He also talked about the trend of selling accessories from the original area, which is crowded when big events are being held.

Because of problems with shipping costs, Wamby mostly accepts orders around Papua, not yet able to penetrate the national market.
This visit from the Ministry of Communication and Information was highly appreciated by Wamby and MSME entrepreneurs, because his great attention was a valuable motivation for him to be more enthusiastic about producing and marketing Papuan products.

Wamby also said that he hopes to market Papuan products to a wider market, namely the national market.

Sumarno further explained that many Papuan accessories can actually be applied to other products.

For example, noken can be applied to a more modern bag.

“Papua is very beautiful, let's be creative so that indigenous Papuan products can compete with other regional products. I believe that with tenacity and persistence, then by utilizing digital channels, Papuan MSMEs can speak volumes on the national and international arenas," said Sumarno.

SOURCE: https://indonesiatimur.id/2021/11/08/pelaku-umkm-di-papua-gunakan-platform-digital-dalam-berbisnis/