Media

The Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO) strives to enhance the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to further contribute to the national economy by involving the education sector.

Chairman of APINDO Shinta Widjaja Kamdani stated that so far, the MSME sector has absorbed 97 percent of the workforce and contributed 60 percent to the national GDP.

“The positive impact is that it helps reduce the open unemployment rate (TPT),” she said in Surabaya, East Java, on Saturday.

One of the ways to support MSMEs through the involvement of the education sector is through a collaboration with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) Indonesia, with a program named APINDO UMKM Merdeka (AUM).

The main focus of this collaboration is developing MSME capabilities and creating competence-based linkages between students and MSMEs, emphasizing mentorship, research, and community service.

Lucia Karina, Director of Public Affairs Communication and Sustainability at CCEP Indonesia, said they have prepared seven modules for the program, covering topics such as business management and production management.

The modules also include marketing management, digital marketing management, business development and financing, character building, and sustainability management.

Additionally, Karina mentioned that the program involves students who have been eager to participate in the "Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka" (MBKM) program, particularly in the development of the MSME sector in the digital era.

Therefore, CCEP Indonesia seeks to bridge the gap between industry needs and graduate readiness, addressing challenges MSMEs face such as marketing, finance, funding, raw materials, and technology.

“We hope that AUM can enhance the competitiveness of MSMEs, both nationally and globally,” she added.