TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Secretary of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry Agus Muharram has encouraged student cooperative (kopma) to become the basis of entrepreneurship in the digital technology. He considered kopma as a place for learning, training and practicing business. “Kopma is formed to create entrepreneurial spirit in students,” he said in written statements, Tuesday, February 23, 2016.

Kopma has both the market and industry. The cooperative members could market their creative product at the cooperative. It could be a barometer for sale before the product enters modern retail markets. Kopma could also create bargaining power in the market.

Agus said that Kopma should mind their cashflow to raise capital. If the cashflow is good, Kopma could propose for loans at the people’s business credit program and the revolving fund management body.

Bambang Setiabudi, Secretary of Character Development Division for Student Institution of Bandung Technology Institute (ITB), claimed that the yearly number of ITB enterpreneurs is around 7 percent out of 3,000 students. The trend of ITB alumni who open businesses tends to rise in the last three years. Three years ago it was only around 5.2 percent, but now it has reached 7 percent.

One of ITB alumni, Ahmad Zaki, who is also the founder of Bukalapak.com, said that the opportunity to compete in digital industry is still open. In addition, the portion of digital technology utilization is growing and majority of the users are young people. He said that the contribution of digital industry to gross domestic product (GDP) in the United States is 21 percent. In fact, every cell phone product launched has a value added of 0.5 percent of the nation’s GDP. “It’s an opportunity up for grab,” he said.

DANANG FIRMANTO