TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Cooperatives and Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Minister Teten Masduki flagged off export shipments of charcoal briquette products of CV Mandiri Persada -- a SME based in Tasikmalaya -- to Hong Kong and Iraq.

The enterprise is fostered by the Revolving Fund Management Institution for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (LPDB-KUMKM).

A total of 18 tons of charcoal briquette were sent to Hong Kong with a value of Rp305 million, while some 26 tons with a value of Rp316 million were delivered to Iraq.

"It is the small business, such as CV Mandiri Persada, that we must continue to develop and improve in order to rise them higher," the minister said in a written statement on Saturday.

The products have also been exported to Brazil, Germany, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, and the United States.

Masduki informed that the world's demands for briquetteproducts continued to increase in line with the anti-coal campaign.

He called on the Government of Tasikmalaya District to respond to the increasing demands by expanding coconut tree plantations and restoring bamboo forests.

“The market exists. However, it has not been optimal benefited. It means that the supply chain is not well connected," he stated.

Meanwhile, Director of CV Mandiri Persada Dewi Sinta informed that the enterprise is a member of the Mandiri Makmur Cooperative (KMM) which is also a partner of LPDB-KUMKM.

Since being fostered by KMM and LPDB-KUMKM, its briquette exports have increased from six containers to 19 containers per month.

LPDB-KUMKM President Director Supomo said the products were able to enter the global market to meet the demands in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.

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ANTARA