Papuan MSMEs Can Succeed with Digital Marketing

MSME products from Papua have regional characteristics that are different from other parts of Indonesia, especially processed foods and crafts. With a digital marketing strategy, MSMEs in Papua have great potential to win against the pandemic.

The Coordinator for the Adoption of MSME Digital Technology, Ministry of Communication and Informatics, Sumarno emphasized that good use of digital technology is able to expand the market and increase MSME profits.

"I hope that MSMEs in Papua can maximize the use of digital platforms so that their business processes are more effective and efficient. With effective and efficient business processes, MSMEs can increase profits," said Sumarno.

Sumarno spoke at a technical guidance event (bimtek) on Digital Technology Adoption to Expand the Market held by the Directorate General of Aptika, Ministry of Communications and Informatics at the Papua Techfest event, Thursday (28/10/2021) in Jayapura, Papua. This event also commemorates Youth Pledge Day.

Participants in the technical guidance consist of MSMEs and students who are interested in the world of entrepreneurship. The participants, who are predominantly young people, signify the advancement of youth entrepreneurship in Papua. The Directorate General of Aptika, Ministry of Communication and Informatics intends to encourage the use of digital technology to market MSME products more broadly.

One of the speakers, Said Musthofa, who is also a facilitator in the Active Selling program, was bombarded with questions by the participants. The fat man from Depok, West Java, has now successfully utilized social media platforms and marketplaces to lock in a turnover of up to IDR 300 million every month. Said gives simple tips on how to take advantage of social media. The participants were amazed by Said's success story, which had 50 ups and downs in starting a business.

In the question and answer session, there were three participants who stood out the most. They are MSMEs that have reaped maximum results in marketing regional products to the national market. Among them are entrepreneurs processing red fruit and red ginger.

MSME entrepreneur, Novita Tuhisila and her colleagues, sell processed products from Papua as an effort to empower Papuan mamak (mothers) so that they can increase their income. At a time when many big entrepreneurs went out of business during the pandemic, MSMEs with processed products to strengthen immunity reaped huge profits.

"I mostly use social media and marketplaces to easily market my products outside of Papua," said Novita.

Rosa, another participant of the technical guidance is in the middle of starting a native Papuan coffee business. He is quite interested in growing his business in the digital world. Answering Rossa's question, Pani Zaristiani, Manager of Communication Program and Partnership for Bukalapak, provides a step-by-step solution for MSMEs to maximize their online store in the marketplace. "These tips are the basic key so that MSME online stores are ogled by marketplace visitors," explained Rosa

SOURCE: https://investor.id/business/268959/umkm-papua-bisa-berjaya-dengan-digital-marketing-nbsp