TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Export Financing Agency (LPEI), or Indonesia Eximbank, continues to encourage exports by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through the Coaching Program for New Exporters (CPNE) in several major cities in the country.

"The program aims to increase national exports, assist national economic recovery, and increase the capacity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the regions to conduct export activities and market their products in the global market," LPEI Executive Director D. James Rompas noted in a statement here on Saturday.

Rompas remarked that LPEI had helped open market access through global marketplaces and exhibitions, both offline and online, as well as through community development via the Foreign Exchange Village Program.

Through these activities, LPEI has fostered more than 2,200 SMEs partners, including 353 SMEs products that have been successfully uploaded to the global marketplace and produced 60 new exporters, as well as developed two Foreign Exchange Villages.

The CPNE program this time was held in North Sumatra Province’s Medan, the third city in the LPEI Consulting Service Program series in 2021, earlier organized in Surakarta and Bali.

Medan, in particular, and North Sumatra, in general, hold the biggest potential for export-oriented SMEs on Sumatra Island.

Based on results of a recent study conducted by the IEB Institute, Medan had clocked an economic growth of 5.98 percent in 2019, with exports valued at US$20 billion, supported by superior commodities, such as vegetables, fruits, coffee, spices, as well as food and beverage.

The CPNE program is a one-year training and mentoring program provided by LPEI to MSME actors that had cleared the selection.

Training modules provided encompass export procedures, preparation of financial reports, legality and export certification, as well as participation in export exhibition activities.

This training was attended by 25 MSMEs in North Sumatra that manage businesses, including of spices, coffee products, coconut products and their derivatives, as well as food and beverage products.

One of the CPNE participants, who is an MSME actor in the coffee plantation sector from Deli Serdang, Darwis Harahap, expressed optimism that his products would be able to penetrate the global market.

"I am upbeat that coffee products of North Sumatra would not only be consumed in Indonesia or in Medan but these products would also be sold abroad. I know this is not easy, but I believe we can do it," Harahap affirmed.

Meanwhile, Deputy Governor of Medan, Musa Rajekshah, lauded all initiatives to boost the economy and welfare of the people of Medan.

"The CPNE training is needed to increase the capacity and competitiveness of MSMEs in Medan, so they can compete in the global market. On account of the fact that we already have natural and human resources potential, we should support such positive efforts since the results will be felt by the SMEs themselves and the people of Medan," he emphasized.

Read: Minister Seeks Greater Role of MSMEs in Boosting Indonesia's Economy

ANTARA