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Balikpapan – The Regional Board of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) East Kalimantan will hold a “Partnership Business Gathering” involving South Korea and Southwest Papua at the Platinum Hotel Balikpapan on Friday, October 10, 2025. The event, which will be attended by Apindo East Kalimantan board members and member companies, will also invite representatives of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from Balikpapan who have previously participated in the Apindo Kaltim Channel Podcast program. “Representatives from the government and business sectors of South Korea, as well as from the government and business community of Southwest Papua Province, will also be present,” said Dr. Abriantinus, SH, MA, Chairman of Apindo East Kalimantan, at his office on Thursday, October 9.

According to Abriantinus, the business gathering is significant for Apindo East Kalimantan, particularly for its member companies. The event will feature dialogue sessions and presentations highlighting the potential and business opportunities of each region, including those from Apindo East Kalimantan, Southwest Papua, and South Korea. He further encouraged Apindo members to take full advantage of the event to explore potential collaborations. “Business deals often emerge in gatherings like this. Therefore, this is an important opportunity for Apindo members to identify potential partnerships that can contribute to East Kalimantan’s economic growth,” he emphasized.

On this occasion, Abriantinus also announced another agenda, a BRI Bank Gathering in collaboration with Apindo East Kalimantan. “Following our meeting with the leadership of BRI Balikpapan at De Café Resto on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, we agreed to organize a BRI Bank Gathering with Apindo East Kalimantan in the near future,” he said. This collaboration is considered strategic as it opens up opportunities for financing support from BRI for Apindo member companies. “We welcome this initiative from BRI. It’s a great opportunity for our members, especially those seeking business financing support,” Abriantinus added.

Echoing this statement, Sudirman (Sudadi), Head of BRI Balikpapan Branch Office, said that the gathering aims to expand BRI’s cooperation with the business community, particularly Apindo East Kalimantan and its members. “We have prepared several partnership programs, especially in terms of business financing and investment support,” said Sudadi. He also noted that BRI fully supports programs to strengthen MSMEs in East Kalimantan, especially in Balikpapan. “We are interested in supporting Apindo East Kalimantan’s efforts to recruit MSME entrepreneurs as members, whether through BRI-issued membership cards (KTA) or financing schemes tailored to MSME needs,” he explained.

Sudadi added that Apindo’s “UMKM Naik Kelas” (Upgrading MSMEs) program, launched by the Apindo National Board (DPN) and implemented through the Apindo Kaltim Channel Podcast, aligns well with BRI’s consistent commitment to MSME financing, including programs such as Kredit Usaha Rakyat (KUR) and others. During the courtesy meeting with Apindo East Kalimantan at De Café Resto, Sudadi was accompanied by Mirdya (Head of Commercial Business Department, Banjarmasin Regional Office), Danang Bagus (Head of Credit Risk Analysis Department), and Sonny Haryono (Small Business Manager, Balikpapan Branch Office). From Apindo East Kalimantan, attendees included Dr. Abriantinus, SH, MA (Chairman), Rivai Sudirman (Vice Chairman), and Herjohn Song Hadinata (Treasurer).

Source: Apindo Kaltim