UNS — Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta held through the Cooperative and Micro-Small-and-Medium Enterprises Accompaniment Study Center Institute of Research and Community Service (LPPM) the 8th UNS SME’s Awards 2021. The event was held simultaneously with the Dharmakrida Baraya Adikarya Anugraha awarding session as an annual schedule for the center. It was held in a hybrid online-offline session for the first time on Wednesday (18/8/2021). The offline session was held in the G.P.H. Haryo Mataram Auditorium UNS, and the online ceremony was broadcasted through the Zoom Cloud Meeting.
The award aims to develop the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) in Indonesia. The event was attended by the Rector of UNS, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, and Vice-Rector for Academic and Student Affairs UNS, Prof. Ahmad Yunus. The Dharmakrida Baraya Adikarya Anugraha Award was bestowed to eleven MSME, corporation, and individual; Hermawan Kartajaya, the Founder and Chairman of Markplus Inc.
Dr. Heru Irianto, the Chief of Cooperative and MSME Accompaniment Study Center LPPM UNS, appreciated the Solusi Bangun Indonesia (SBI), Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), Pokphand, and Sampoerna Agro for their collaboration. “I hope this collaboration could continue with further activities and strengthen the MSME, independent country,” he mentioned in his opening remark.
The Rector of UNS, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, stated that Bank Indonesia data shows that the pandemic affects 87.5 % of MSMEs in Indonesia. From this number, 93.2% are negatively affected in terms of sales. However, several MSMEs could survive during the pandemic through business innovation and creativity. “(Through) intelligence and ingenuity in managing MSMEs by changing marketing, distribution, transaction pattern,” Prof. Jamal stated.
The MSMEs are utilizing the momentum of people’s behavioral changes in terms of shopping and online transaction. An appropriate and excellent strategy to maintain their business performance. Therefore, it is suitable for UNS as an educational institution that is intensely concerned with MSME businesses to show great appreciation toward MSME observers. “This is an appreciation for their performance and never-ending concerns for MSMEs,” the Rector added.
As the only individual awardee in the event, Hermawan Kartajaya greatly appreciates the award. “I promise that (I) prepare special counter for UNS. Today we are family; let’s exhibit UNS works in Bali 2023 because there are hundreds of global MSMEs in Bali in the International Council for Small Business (ICSB),” Hermawan stated.
He also hoped that UNS and ICSB Central Java could develop several brands that could be used by MSMEs who does not have personal brand by sending their products following UNS criteria. Humas UNS
Reporter: Bayu Aji Prasetya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti