Adaro strengthens MSMEs to penetrate digital marketing

Tanjung, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Seeing the facts that the COVID-19 pandemic which lasted almost a year had also hit MSMEs around its operational areas, PT Adaro Indonesia through the CSR department initiated AKU program, which stands for Adaro Kuatkan UMKM (Adaro Strengthen MSMEs).

PT Adaro Indonesia's CSR Department Head Leni Marlina said that the average MSMEs around Adaro's operational areas suffered a decline in turnover of up to 50 percent.

“The impact of pandemic was not only from the health aspect but also from the economic, one of which was MSMEs around our operational. The result of our team's survey showed MSMEs experienced difficulties in marketing their products,” said Leni.

A total of 180 MSMEs from six districts, namely Tabalong, Balangan, HSU, Barito Kuala, Barito Timur, Barito Selatan took part in training from February 19 to March 3, 2021, through Zoom application.

According to the Chief Executive of AKU Lalu Nofa Setiawan, the activity focused on strengthening the capacity of MSMEs in online marketing of products and helping them to survive in the midst of the pandemic storm.

“We want to provide a new perspective for MSMEs related to marketing that the pandemic conditions actually present opportunities in selling products online,” he said.  

In this training, Adaro presented two experienced practitioners in the world of e-commerce, namely Jonathan Kho and Sugeng Wibowo.

Jonathan Kho, better known as Om Botak, provided an understanding of digital migration as a surviving strategy during the pandemic, as well as guiding the technical steps to create a shop in the marketplace.

Meanwhile, Sugeng Wibowo gave tips and tricks to improve a store in the marketplace, so it becomes more attractive for visitors and MSME is expected to have overwhelming orders.

AHS Sasirangan owner from Balangan Zulpianor Fiqri said this training has challenged him to establish himself in the digital market.

"Even though I have used Shopee and other marketplaces for many years, but only as a buyer. Now I am challenged to become a seller," he said.

Apart from training, the AKU program also facilitates internal sales of MSMEs products to Adaro employees through flash sale activity to be held on March 3, 2021.

After this series of programs, said Leni Marlina, Adaro will create a special marketplace application for marketing MSME's products under the name Ada Lapak. 

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