Denpasar, 15 December 2018 – As an embodiment of its commitment in empowering potentials of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) sector, PT HM Sampoerna Tbk. (Sampoerna) organizes its annual activity, SETC Expo 2018 in Denpasar, Bali on 15-16 December 2018. In its tenth arrangement, this event is themed ”New Era Entrepreneurship” to facilitate SMEs businessmen in facing various chances and challenges in the era of digital technology.
SETC Expo is an annual SMEs exhibition and training program as part of Sampoerna Entrepreneurship Training Center (PKK Sampoerna). This integrated training center aims to promote SMEs growth and development in agrobusiness and appropriate vocational technology.
Head of Regional Affairs & CSR Sampoerna Ervin Laurence Pakpahan explained, ”As a realization of support for SMEs empowerment, for more than 10 years Sampoerna has been consistently developing the capability of its foster SMEs. This enthusiasm is expressed in the corporate umbrella program called ’Sampoerna for Indonesia’ as our effort in supporting the government in order to accelerate national and regional economic independence.”
One of Sampoerna’s programs focusing in SMEs sector is PKK Sampoerna. Until today, PPK Sampoerna has developed approximately 40,000 entrepreneurs in 79 cities/districts in Indonesia. In its development, PPK Sampoerna keeps improving and share as many benefits as possible so as it is seen as a reference for other companies and institutions and as an interaction hub of all stakeholders.
”Sampoerna sees the one decade of SETC Expo arrangement as a milestone. We hold this event in order to disseminate PKK Sampoerna’s contributions to keep improving the capacity of our foster SMEs businessmen so as they are ready to welcome all challenges in developing their business,” Ervin explained.
Since its first arrangement in 2009, SETC Expo always brings up appealing themes in response to the needs of SMEs businessmen. Ervin continued, ”This year, with the theme of ’New Era Entrepreneurship’, Sampoerna intends to help SMEs businessmen respond to the disruptive situation driven by digital technology development in this era. It is also an essential part of entrepreneurship ecosystem, mainly in allowing opportunities to expand the marketing scope of their products, even to the international level.”
Anak Agung Gede Ngurah Puspayoga, Minister of Cooperation and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises of the Republic of Indonesia, expresses his appreciation, “The ‘New Era Enterpreneurship’ theme for this event is proper and consistent with industrial revolution 4.0 –a new era occurring in the present, especially among entrepreneurs. Back then, we had to own a shop to sell the goods we produced, while now people can have a shop or business and develop it just with their hands. I invite all SMEs businessmen here to motivate their colleagues to join an entrepreneur, especially in this new era where working as a businessman or woman is much easier to do. This spirit is consistent with the President of the Republic of Indonesia’s program that focuses on encouraging community economy through equal distribution of welfare as SMEs businessmen have a very strategic role in supporting the program.”
“Therefore, I thank Sampoerna for continuously coaching the SMEs. I hope Sampoerna continues to evaluate its programs so as to help the government increase the ratio of entrepreneurs, which in 2017 has risen to 3.1%–a proud achievement as it exceeded 2% international standard. I hope Sampoerna and the government can maintain collaboration in assisting small businesses to become independence.” Puspayoga continued.
The theme brought up by SETC Expo this time is relevant as technology utilization is still not well-distributed and it becomes a new challenge for SMEs businesssmen. In fact, out of 59.26 million SMEs businessmen in Indonesia, only about 4 million use digital technology and social media. Meanwhile, adoption of digital technology for product marketing is proven to enable more chances for export and increase revenue up to 26%.
I Gede Indra Dewa Putra, Head of Cooperation and SMEs Office of Bali Province, explained, “Bali Province government continues to make attempts to develop tourism in Bali to support the 20 million targeted international tourists in 2019. For now, our focus is how to create synergy between tourism and SMEs sector as they clearly have great contribution to the development of tourism potentials in general.”
For the SMEs to be able to keep growing, he added that along with the information and technology advancement, SMEs businessmen should understand that the trade current is becoming more modern. Hence, it is important to have synergy between the government and business realm to keep helping the SMEs businessmen face the changing times, like what Sampoerna does with PPK Sampoerna assistance and SETC Expo 2018 arrangement. He believed that this approach may become an example for other stakeholders in implementing sustainability capability development.
SETC Expo 2018 is brought with various interesting activities to develop technical (hard skills) and mental (soft skills) skills of the SMEs businessmen in the digital era. This public event presents product exhibition participated by more than 180 foster SMEs and 90 stands and involve stakeholders related to entrepreneurship, such as financial institutions, business consulting institutions, and others.
Additionally, to complete the support in the empowerment of SMEs businessmen or individuals interested to be an entrepreneur, an entrepreneur seminar, workshop, and entrepreneur clinic are also held by involving a pack of competent speakers, as well as competition and award for entrepreneurs in the interest of injecting enthusiasm and motivation. SETC Expo 2018 aims to provide benefit for 6,000 visitors from Bali and outside Bali as well as relevant marketing network in support for entrepreneurship enhancement in Bali Province and Indonesia in general.
- End –
About PT HM Sampoerna Tbk. (Sampoerna)
Established in 1913, Sampoerna – an affiliation of PT Philip Morris Indonesia and part of Philip Morris International Inc. – is one of the leading tobacco companies in Indonesia, which focuses on production and sales of kretek cigarette. The Company produces several well-known kretek cigarettes such as Sampoerna A, legendary King of Kretek Dji Sam Soe, Sampoerna U, and Sampoerna Kretek. The Company also distributes Marlboro cigarette across Indonesia through a long-term distribution agreement with PT Philip Morris Indonesia. Sampoerna is operating seven factories in Java island and cooperating with 38 Cigarette Production Partners, with a total manpower of 67,400 employees, both direct and indirect, most of which work in Hand-Rolled Cigarette production line. Sampoerna distributes its products through 106 regional sales and distribution offices across Indonesia.
Sampoerna is the issuer with the largest market capitalization in Indonesia Stock Exchange. Sampoerna’s shares are traded under the “HMSP” stock code.
An Overview of Sampoerna for Indonesia
Sampoerna for Indonesia is a series of activities and program held by PT HM Sampoerna Tbk. as the Company’s contribution and participation in developing the Nation and people of Indonesia, as well as to inspire and motivate the community to do give the best for themselves and Indonesia. The “Sampoerna for Indonesia” activity and program cover various fields, such as education, woman empowerment, community economy development, and disaster emergency response.
For further information, please visit: www.sampoerna.com