Jakarta, March 21, 2019 – PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BNI) is continuing with its efforts to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the country to enter the export sector.
In addition to the special funds distributed to MSMEs through BNI’s KUR (Kredit Usaha Rakyat) loan scheme, the state-owned lender also actively provides assistance and training to MSME entrepreneurs, as well as to customers who have just started their businesses.
BNI is currently focusing on Cirebon. The West Java regency situated on the northern coast has the potential to become an important distribution gateway for products created by SMEs in other regions.
BNI recently held the "Optimizing the Potential of MSMEs to Increase Exports" panel discussion in Cirebon on the evening of Wednesday, March 20, 2019.
The event was a collaboration between BNI and several regional agencies, including the Cirebon Customs & Excise Office and the Cirebon Industry and Trade Agency, as well as the Customs Services Management Company (PPJK).
BNI Treasury and International Business Director Rico Rizal Budidarmo acknowledged that Cirebon was one West Java region that had great potential for distributing products from local MSMEs to both national and international markets.
MSMEs in Cirebon produce a wide range of culinary, textile and handcraft products. These industrial products have high added value and are able to compete at the international level, and can therefore contribute to Indonesia's trade balance.
"Currently, we are focusing not only on providing trade services for corporate customers, but also on providing KUR [loans] to develop export-oriented MSMEs. In addition, BNI provides competitive prices, as well as fast and efficient export-import transaction services," said Rico.
BNI distributed an aggregate KUR of a maximum Rp 59.03 trillion to 537,396 debtors in February 2019.
The newly established PLB (Pusat Logistik Berikat; logistics center) will optimize the facilitation of trading activities in Cirebon, especially export transactions.
The PLB was established in Cirebon Regency’s Arjawinangun District as an export services center that could facilitate profitable activities for exporters. The center is expected to help reduce transportation and storage costs, enable faster payments and shorten the delivery times.
Cirebon’s geographical location is an advantage for MSMEs, which can access the global market through the nearby Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta. Cirebon Port is presently being upgraded into a feeder port to facilitate marine distribution of export commodities to Tanjung Priok, reducing the cost of distribution by land.
BNI Indramayu Education House
To further improve the people's economy, BNI is providing a variety of services for Indonesian migrant workers (PMIs) through the BNI Education House. The education center serves PMIs and their families by providing information and general knowledge through a range of empowerment activities, including foreign language training and entrepreneurship training, as well as general and computer literacy and a free internet facility to access information.
BNI representatives visited on Wednesday the BNI Education House in Kenanga Village, Indramayu Regency, to witness the signing of a partnership agreement on financial education and literacy between BNI and several legal entities that provide Indonesian worker placement services (PPTKIS) in Indramayu.
The financial education and literacy partnership aims to train prospective PMIs in managing their personal finances and in making remittances quickly, easily, and safely. The partnership includes a service that assists PMIs in opening BNI Taplus savings accounts.
The bank also offered its special KUR migrant worker loan scheme (KUR TKI, Tenaga Kerja Indonesia, Indonesian worker) to Indramayu PMIs, with the hope that after repatriation, the loan recipients will initiate entrepreneurial activities with the money they manage in their BNI Taplus accounts.