The Regional Leadership Council (DPW) of the Indonesian Islamic Economists Association (IAEI) East Java together with the Central Leadership Council (DPP) of IAEI and the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) Universitas Airlangga held a Regional MSME Development Workshop on Monday (26/6) at Fadjar Hall, FEB Universitas Airlangga. The workshop with the theme "Optimising Indonesian MSME Businesses to Become Stronger and Globally Competitive" was attended by more than 50 participants from MSMEs in East Java. This activity is expected to improve the economy of East Java through digitalisation of marketing and product exports to become Go Global MSMEs.
The workshop was attended by the Chairperson of the East Java Empowerment of Indonesian MSME Women (PPUMI) who is also the Deputy Regent of Sumenep Regency, Hj. Dewi Khalifah, SH, MH. In her remarks, she emphasised that one of the important points in the development of MSMEs for the export market is good product packaging that can last up to one year.
"For the guidance and assistance of MSMEs, we need to work together between IAEI, universities and local governments in East Java and in Indonesia in general," said Hj. Dewi Khalifah, SH, MH, in his speech.
Meanwhile, the Head of Research and Scientific Development of DPP IAEI, Prof. Dr. Raditya Sukmana, in his speech representing DPP IAEI, emphasised that one of the important points in the development of MSME products is related to pricing issues which are also a challenge in the export process in order to compete in the global market.
"Therefore, the pricing issue that must be considered in order to compete in the export market is efficiency from our side so that it can be cheaper," added Prof. Dr Raditya Sukmana, MA.
Another message was conveyed by the Chairman of DPW IAEI East Java, represented by Dr. Khairunnisa Musari as Secretary I in his speech, that MSMEs are the backbone of the Indonesian economy, East Java MSMEs are great, so Indonesian MSMEs must be strong.
The trainers of the Regional MSME Development Workshop were delivered by Dr. Abdul Rahem, M. Kes., Apt, Head of the Halal Center of Airlangga University and Untung Basuki, Head of East Java Customs I. Abdul Rahem in his material on halal certification and market networking explained the importance of halal-certified MSME products amid the many derivatives of services and food / beverage ingredients that are contaminated with haram elements. In addition, halal certification also provides many benefits, such as increasing consumer confidence and competitiveness, especially for export needs.
Meanwhile, Untung Basuki emphasised export opportunities through digitalisation of MSME product marketing. Basuki added that in the process there are challenges faced by MSMEs in the midst of uncertainty, one of which is the difficulty of penetrating the global market. Therefore, Customs will provide facilitation for industry and trade to MSME players as one of its functions.
This Regional MSME Development Workshop is the third IAEI Roadshow Workshop Series after being successfully held in Gorontalo and Aceh, which is part of the Road to Muktamar V IAEI 2023 Programme.
