Jakarta. The government reported that Indonesia had at least 30.19 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), each offering its own unique products. Amidst this competition, how can MSMEs level up and grow their business?

One effective way to boost sales is by introducing their products to the public. One option is the Pertamina SMEXPO (Small Medium Enterprise Expo), an ecosystem for introducing MSME products. The SMEXPO is available on SMEXPO.pertamina.com online marketplace. There are also product exhibition held by Pertamina in various cities.

Pertamina Vice President of Corporate Communication Muhammad Baron said that the MSME Development was one of Pertamina's flagship social and environmental responsibility programs, in line with Pertamina's efforts to improve the welfare and economy of the community.

"Pertamina SMEXPO continues to develop, becoming an innovative platform for the advancement of local MSMEs through strategic collaboration between MSMEs and a means for MSMEs to meet potential buyers," Baron said.

SMEXPO is the pinnacle of activities for MSMEs fostered by Pertamina. Prior to actively participating in the exhibition, Pertamina implemented various MSME development programs, such as mentoring and quality improvement through the MSME Academy program, providing grants for appropriate equipment, and even providing professional certification. Pertamina seeks local businesses into professional businesses competing on the national and international stage.

Astuti's Cimeler (Cilok Meler), for example, consistently records top sales and is currently undergoing BPOM or the food regulatory agency's standardization to penetrate the export market.

In addition to licensing, capital solutions are also an important element of Pertamina's mentoring provided to MSME entrepreneurs participating in Pertamina SMEXPO. For Astuti, who previously had limited capital, access to financing from Pertamina has opened up opportunities to expand her production scale.

"Working Capital Loans through the Pertamina PUMK Fund scheme, distributed through synergy with BRI, have lower interest rates than regular bank KUR," Astuti stated.

Another Pertamina MSE partner, Hendra Agustira, owner of Ocien Snack, admitted that after participating in Pertamina SMEXPO, his business recorded an increase in sales and began serving European market demand after successfully reaching Japan and Australia.

"There was a 25-30% increase in sales. After the Pertamina SMEXPO event, we gained more resellers who have continued to place orders to this day," Hendra explained.

In the food processing sector, Ngudiono, owner of NanasQu, also saw a 20% increase in sales thanks to new business networks formed during the Pertamina SMEXPO exhibition. Through Pertamina's integrated digital marketing and promotional strategies, this processed pineapple product from Central Java has successfully penetrated the Dubai and Dutch markets.

Furthermore, digital marketing has also yielded encouraging results, thanks to Pertamina's promotions during the exhibition. NanasQu's sales rating continues to climb, along with the product's growing social media following.

"Pertamina consistently encourages us to go global, export, and go online," Ngudiono said.

These success stories reflect Pertamina's commitment to implementing comprehensive and innovative MSME development programs. This initiative also aligns with the government's Asta Cita vision, specifically improving welfare through community empowerment. This includes building from the village level, creating jobs, encouraging entrepreneurship, and developing the creative economy.