The 2018 Asian Games provides an opportunity for SMEs in Indonesia to promote and market their products. Seven of 23 companies that are licensed to produce souvenirs for the multi-sports event, which involves athletes from 45 countries, are SMEs.
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ANTARA FOTO/PUSPA PERWITASARI
Visitors line up to buy food at a Kampung BUMN event in the South Parking grounds of Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Central Jakarta on Sunday (15/7/2018). Kampung BUMN, which was highlighted by a joint watching of the 2018 World Cup final, a culinary bazaar and a small and medium enterprises (SMEs) bazaar, was used to promote the 2018 Asian Games to the public.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang provides an opportunity for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia to promote and market their products. Seven of 23 companies that are licensed to produce souvenirs for the multi-sports event, which involves athletes from 45 countries, are SMEs.
Indonesia 2018 Asian Games Organizing Committee (Inasgoc) merchandise director Mochtar Sarman said on Wednesday (15/8/2018) in Jakarta that 23 companies held licenses to produce souvenirs, varying from clothes to shoes, to dolls and to food and beverages. “One SME is DuAnyam, which produces many souvenirs,” he said.
Mochtar released the information during the “SMEs Catch the 2018 Asian Games Opportunity” discussion at the Smesco building in Jakarta. The other speakers were SME and Cooperatives Marketing Institution president director Emilia Suhaimi and DuAnyam representative Juan Firmansyah.
Mochtar said the 2018 Asian Games provided an opportunity to local companies to market products overseas, considering that 45 countries were participating in the event. The SMEs would also learn about following international standards.
“Under the licensing system, there are many international standards that must be met. This is an opportunity for domestic SMEs to learn about upgrading from the usual standards to an international one,” he said.
Emilia added the Smesco Indonesia was one of the shopping destinations for Asian Games contingents. Other shopping destinations were Grand Indonesia, Plaza Senayan and Senayan City.
“At Smesco, there are top SME products from 34 provinces in Indonesia. The products are of high quality because they are curated,” said Emilia.
Smesco Indonesia specializes in presenting comprehensive products from across the country. Visitors can find products from all provinces without having to visit each province.
Emilia said the products Smesco displayed came directly from the craftsmen, and that it aimed to empower and improve the welfare of local craftsmen.
Market challenges
The products on display should meet the taste of potential consumers within a specific target market. Juan Firmansyah said one of the challenges in product design for Asian Games souvenirs was that the product must be attractive. “So far, the products are being distributed to malls and outlets in Jakarta and Palembang,” he said.
Juan said DuAnyam’s participation in the 2018 Asian Games boosted the spirit of local craftsment in Larantuka, East Nusa Tenggara, to weave the leaves of the lontar palm. “The woven carpets made of lontar leaves as souvenirs are sent from Flores to Jakarta, reaching 2,000 to 3,000 pieces per month,” he said.
A variety of woven lontar products or a combination of the products, ranging from hats to bookmarks, to fans and book covers, had been prepared to attract potential buyers.
“This souvenir project has boosted our spirit. We thought it would be impossible for SME products to enter an event as big as the Asian Games,” said Juan.
Regarding prices, Mochtar said the souvenirs were being sold from Rp 15,000 to Rp 5 million per piece, depending on type and size. “The souvenir is made affordable. Compared to the Asian Games souvenirs in South Korea and other countries, our prices are more affordable,” he added.
