Heaptalk, Jakarta — Indonesia Retail Entrepreneur Association (APRINDO), and Microsoft held a series of events to welcome National Retail Day 2021 (10/11). The events were adopted “Resilient Retail, Advance MSMEs, Rise up Indonesia” and were performed in hybrid. Organizing the event, APRINDO is expected these activities can boost MSMEs’ capacity to rise up and boost the national economic recovery.
In line with the event’s goal, namely celebrating National Retail Day 2021, several activities that benefited the MSMEs was conducted, spanning training and learning program through an online webinar, the exhibition of MSMEs’ products, an award to appreciate people or organizations that promote the modern retail’s growth and progress, job affair, etc.
Moreover, the collaboration of APRINDO and Microsoft has generated initiatives to accelerate digital transformation amid retail and MSMEs’ actors, including the launch of microsite as well as the release of guidance book for Indonesia Modern Retail and MSMEs. The book contains various information concerning the digitalization of retail and MSMEs in every level of business needs.
In addition to encouraging digital competency, the collaboration between the association and Microsoft also created other opportunities that can advance Indonesia’s retail industry. The opportunity, one of which, is conveyed in HALAL Lifestyle Indonesia, a channel that can be utilized to socialize the concept of halal, expand market access, and promote Indonesia’s halal product.
The activities also have involved some companies, including PT Pos Indonesia for the logistic process optimization. Social Security Agency for employment (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan) is also invited to deliver aid to people who lose their jobs, and PT Teknologi Plus provides funding in the form of peer-to-peer lending (P2P) MSMEs.
In response to the event, the chairman of APRINDO Roy N. Mandey voiced, “We are deeply enthusiastic about resonating the importance of retail industry toward Indonesia’s economy in National Retail Day 2021. Team up with Microsoft, we are pleased because we can provide a more advanced platform for retail actors to be connected to each other, even, being connected to the consumers.”
Moreover, Roy also added, “Through the series of the events that keep on going until December, we also are going to deliver more digital solution and empowerment program that collaborates with multiple institutions. The cooperation is expected can be the initial point for retail business, including MSMEs, to navigate the digital options that are available and to keep growing to address global challenge today.”
APRINDO, as stated by Roy, is ready to continue the synergy and collaboration that has been initiated with a handful of ministries and institutions. The cooperation is built with Indonesia’s food and drug control agency (FDA) to disseminate information concerning the implementation of processed food security to modern retail.
The members of APRINDO also will have a wider scope of access from the deal built with the Commodity Futures Trading Regulation Agency (BAPPEBTI). The collaboration between APRINDO and Bank Indonesia will assist the members of APRINDO in promoting the use of QRIS for consumers. Indonesian state-owned pawnbroker will assist the APRINDO’s members in broadening the function of the pawnbroker’s agent. Together with Perikanan Nusantara, the association will hold “Festival Gudang Ikan Nusantara”, which means archipelago fish store festival.
