Center for Economic Democracy Studies (PUSTEK) UGM and Bank Syariah Mandiri held an online training and mentoring program for MSMEs in the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java on 14-18 December 2020.
Based on the selection and grouping of participants (clustering), participants were divided into two batches. In the first batch, in terms of business fields, most MSEs engaged in agriculture and processed food. In contrast, the second batch participants were MSEs engaged in small industries, handicrafts, fashion, and other areas.
“By assisting MSMEs to become more professional, especially accompanied by practitioners here,” said Prof. Ambar Pertiwiningrum, Ph.D., the head of the implementing team, at the opening ceremony held on Monday (14/12).
During the pandemic, the MSME sector is one of the most affected. The ratio of Non-Performing Loans (NPL) in the MSME sector in May 2020 reached 4.14 percent. However, the MSME NPL of 4.14 percent is still considered quite resistant to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, proving that MSMEs are a resilient sector in facing the economic crisis, which is almost the same as in 1998.
Although they have the resilience to the crisis, it is not sure how long they will survive because the economic crisis due to this pandemic is expected to last for quite a long time. This condition makes MSME actors still have high vulnerabilities to not survive in the long-term crises.
One of the essential factors that can make MSMEs survive in times of crisis is if they have good managerial skills. MSMEs with good managerial skills can optimize their capabilities and opportunities and can overcome crises.
The MSME Training Program will cover five main topics, namely “Building Innovative and Competitive Businesses”, “Institutional, Legal Aspects, and Networks”, “Marketing Management”, “Financial Management”, and “Operations and Organizational Management”.
On the same occasion, Vice-Rector for Research and Community Service UGM, drg. Ika Dewi Ana, M.Kes., Ph.D., revealed that UGM had completed an academic paper related to services for MSMEs.
In addition to providing training, UGM will also provide laboratories that can serve the needs of MSMEs to standardize or certify required.
“It is important for all of us because we want our MSMEs to become kings at home, in their own country,” she said.
MSME products, she explained, need to be encouraged to enter the international market and meet domestic needs and contribute to the welfare of the community. Standardization and testing are needed to provide legality for MSME products to enter the international market.
“There must be special assistance so that MSMEs with limited capital do not have to buy their own tools and educate their own human resources, but can submit the need for certification and standardization to UGM for assistance,” explained Ika.
Source: https://ugm.ac.id/id/berita/20493-pustek-ugm-selenggarakan-program-pelatihan-umkm
