JAKARTA, 10 July 2022 – The contribution of PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero), Tbk. or BNI in the Imported Goods Fair (IGF) 2022 event organized by the Korean Importers Association (KOIMA) on 23-25 June 2022 at Coex Seoul is considered very positive to support the sustainability of domestic Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Moreover, the event for MSME players at the global level recorded several potential orders for food and beverage products reaching US$546,000. This figure can still increase because some business actors are still communicating and in the negotiation stage with potential buyers.
The Indonesian Ambassador to the Republic of South Korea Gandi Sulistiyanto said that at this event the Indonesian Pavilion brought 19 MSME partners fostered by BNI in the Xpora program and 5 food and beverage business actors to participate and promote superior products such as wooden furniture and decorations, silver jewelry, pearls and jewelry, cosmetics, coffee and food products.
"Of course this is very positive to support the sustainability of domestic Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to answer the growth potential, especially in South Korea," said Gandi last weekend.
In the event supported by BNI, the Ministry of Trade and the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Seoul, Gandi continued, it was also recorded that there were at least 6 entrepreneurs who did online business matching with Korean importers, one of which was the largest retail company in Korea.
In this event, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between BNI and KOIMA by BNI Consumer Business Director Corina Leyla Karnalies with KOIMA Executive Vice Chairman Kim Young-Sun.
The signing of this MOU includes cooperation in business matching programs and information exchange related to Indonesian exporters and South Korean importers.
Corina revealed that South Korea has a large market potential for Indonesian MSME products, considering that 82% of South Koreans live in urban areas and have the longest life expectancy.
She admitted that the collaboration between BNI, KOIMA and the Ministry of Trade in the IGF 2022 event had a direct impact on Xpora customers. Currently, BNI is starting to receive many requests from KOIMA members to conduct business matching during the exhibition.
"This is an effort to create many investment opportunities abroad, increase the potential for new jobs for the Indonesian people, and encourage domestic MSMEs to enter the international market, while at the same time attracting a lot of potential investment from abroad. We also provide capital facilities for Diaspora SMEs," she concluded.
It is known, BNI has succeeded in recording export volume growth during January-May 2022, with an annual growth of 30.62%.
BNI has also collaborated with the Indonesian Embassy in South Korea and the Ministry of Trade to continue exploring the market potential in South Korea, including by encouraging collaboration with the diaspora.